Credits: 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ CME/CE Information and Claim Credit: https://www.pri-med.com/online-education/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-390

Overview: In 1995, the US launched a varicella vaccination program, leading to a significant drop in cases. However, breakthrough infections still occur, and clinical diagnosis has become less reliable as the virus has evolved. Join us to hear current recommendations for what to consider in the differential diagnosis and how emerging evidence may impact public health and your practice.

Episode resource links:

• Marin, M, Leung, J, Anderson, TC, Lopez, AS. Monitoring Varicella Vaccine Impact on Varicella Incidence in the United States: Surveillance Challenges and Changing Epidemiology, 1995–2019, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 226, Issue Supplement_4, 1 November 2022, Pages S392–S399, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac221
• Qiu L, Liu S, Zhang M, et al. The epidemiology of varicella and effectiveness of varicella vaccine in Ganyu, China: a long-term community surveillance study. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):1875. Published 2023 Sep 28. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16304-4
• Ruprecht A, Marin M, Strain AK, Harry K, Kenyon C. Notes from the Field: Expanded Laboratory Testing for Varicella — Minnesota, 2016–2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:245–246. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7311a3
• DynaMed – Chicken pox – Varicella (https://www-dynamed-com.umassmed.idm.oclc.org/condition/chickenpox#GUID-DFBFAA99-31E8-4553-AFDB-AA1988B1967A):

Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C Music Credit: Richard Onorato