Polio and Haemophilus influenzae — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: What type of vaccine is the HBV vaccine? _____

Answer: Subunit

Flashcard 2: What is the route of transmission of Poliovirus?_____

Answer: Fecal-oral

Flashcard 3: What type of vaccine is the Hib vaccine? _____

Answer: Conjugate vaccine

Extra: The Hib vaccine consists of the capsular polysaccharide (polyribosylribitol phosphate, PRP) conjugated to a protein carrier (e.g., tetanus toxoid). Conjugation is necessary to provoke a T-cell dependent immune response, which is crucial for efficacy in infants under 2 years of age.

Flashcard 4: Which bacteria classically causes epiglottitis?_____

Answer: Haemophilus influenzae

Flashcard 5: Which form of poliovirus vaccine forms IgG and IgA antibodies?_____

Answer: Sabin

Flashcard 6: Administration of vaccines is an example of _____ immunization

Answer: active

Flashcard 7: What vaccinations should be considered for patients without a spleen?

Answer: encapsulated organisms; specifically S. pneumoniae, H influenzae, N. meningitidis

Extra: Timing of vaccination: • Elective splenectomy: At least 14 days before surgery. • Emergency splenectomy: 14 days after surgery. Patients should also receive the annual Influenza vaccine to reduce the risk of secondary bacterial pneumonia.

Flashcard 8: Explain the rationale for "conjugated" vaccines.

Answer: When a vaccine is based on a polysaccharide capsule antigen, the polysaccharide must be attached to a protein in order to induce sufficient immune response.

Flashcard 9: Considering the relative antigenicity of exotoxins and endotoxins, which class can be used to generate vaccines?

Answer: exotoxins