Fatal Measles Virus Infection After Rituximab-Containing Chemotherapy in a Previously Vaccinated Patient

Philipp Jent; Mafalda Trippel; Manuel Frey; Alexander Pöllinger; Sabina Berezowska; Rupert Langer; Hansjakob Furrer; Charles Béguelin

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofy244

Fatal Measles Virus Infection After Rituximab-Containing Chemotherapy in a Previously Vaccinated Patient

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Nov 1;5(11):ofy244. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy244. eCollection 2018 Nov.

Authors

Philipp Jent¹, Mafalda Trippel², Manuel Frey³, Alexander Pöllinger⁴, Sabina Berezowska², Rupert Langer², Hansjakob Furrer¹, Charles Béguelin¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
² Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
³ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Abstract

We report the case of a young patient treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy who was infected with measles despite previous vaccination. Treatment with vitamin A, ribavirin, and immunoglobulins was started; nevertheless he developed severe pneumonitis and deceased. Broad vaccination coverage is crucial in protecting vulnerable subjects.

Keywords: immunocompromised; measles; rituximab; vaccination.