Comparing efficacy of antiviral prophylaxis to vaccination in prevention of varicella zoster in patients post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus that causes disease as both a primary and latent infection. Reactivation of the latent virus is common in patients who have undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and can come with serious complications, including postherpetic neuralgia, secondary bacterial infections, and in severe cases, death. Prophylaxis with antiviral medication is used to prevent reactivation, but no standard exists for dose and duration of treatment. This review compares vaccination in the prevention of herpes zoster infections in patients who have undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant compared with antiviral prophylaxis