Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Facts and Vaccines

Facts:

• HPV vaccines are close to 100% effective in preventing HPV infection and precancerous conditions that may lead to cervical cancer, if the vaccine is given before a person is exposed to the HPV types contained in the vaccine.
• HPV vaccines appear to be safe and generally are well tolerated.
• Two HPV vaccines have been developed. Both prevent infection with type 16 and -18, and may prevent up to 70% of cervical cancers. One of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV-6 and -11, and may prevent about 95% of genital warts.

Material Collection from Suspected Herpetic Lesions

Principle:

Herpesvirus is best recovered from the base of active lesions in the vesicular stage. The older the lesion, the less likely it will yield viable virus.

Method:

1. Open the vesicles with a small gauge needle or Dacron- tipped swab.
2. Rub the base of the lesion vigorously with a small cotton-tipped or Dacron-tipped swab to recover infected cells.
3. Place the swab into viral transport medium and refrigerate until inoculated to culture media. Specimens in media may be stored at -70⁰C for extended periods without loss of viral yield.
4. If large vesicles are present, material for culture may be aspirated directly by needle and syringe.
5. Material from another lesion can be applied directly to a glass slide for a Tzanck preparation (cytology) with Wright- Giemsa stain for detection of multinucleated giant cells, or for fluorescent antibody stain for detection of viral antigens.