Organism-Specific Therapy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that one-third of people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as herpes zoster, in their lifetime. There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in the United States. The risk for herpes zoster increases sharply after age 50 years. [1]
Herpes varicella zoster therapeutic regimens are provided below, including those for antivirals and zoster vaccines.
Treatment
Therapy should be initiated at the earliest sign or symptom of herpes zoster and is most effective when started generally within 72h of the onset of zoster rash.
Zoster confined to dermatome (immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients):
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Acyclovir 800 mg PO 5 times daily for 7-10d or famciclovir 500 mg PO TID for 7d or valacyclovir 1000 mg PO TID for 7d
Visceral, central nervous system, or disseminated VZV infections, and zoster in severely immunocompromised patients:
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Acyclovir 10 mg/kg (500 mg/m 2 in children < 12 y) IV q8h for 7-10d
Prevention
Despite longstanding recommendations for use of many vaccines, vaccination coverage among US adults is low. In 2015, among adults aged 60 years or older, 30.6% reported receiving herpes zoster vaccination to prevent shingles, a 2.7% increase from 2014. Whites aged 65 years or older had higher herpes zoster vaccination coverage (38.3%) compared with Blacks (14.1%), Hispanics (19.2%), and Asians (30.6%). [4]
The immunization recommendations from the CDC include the following [2, 7] :
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Administer 2 doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) (Shingrix) 2-6 months apart to adults aged 50 years or older, regardless of past episode of herpes zoster or receipt of zoster vaccine live (ZVL) (Zostavax).
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Administer 2 doses of RZV 2-6 months apart to adults who previously received ZVL at least 2 months after ZVL.
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The FDA has expanded the indication for recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) to include adults aged ≥18 years who are or will be at increased risk for herpes zoster because of immunodeficiency or immunosuppression caused by known disease or therapy. ACIP has recommended 2 doses of RZV for the prevention of herpes zoster and related complications in adults aged ≥19 years who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed because of disease or therapy. RZV is the first herpes zoster vaccine approved for use in immunocompromised persons.
Zoster vaccine recombinant, adjuvanted (Shingrix)
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Used for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in patients aged 50 years or older; not used for the treatment of herpes zoster
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Used in immunocompetent adults who previously received Zostavax
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Administer 0.5 mL (entire vial contents) IM in the deltoid region, 2-6 months apart
Approval was based on a multicenter trial, Zoster Efficacy Study in Adults 50 Years of Age or Older (ZOE-50). The trial was conducted in 18 countries in 13,900 people aged 70 years or older. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Shingrix or placebo. Mean follow-up period was 3.7 years. The efficacy for the prevention of herpes zoster was 96.6% in persons aged 50-59 years, 97.4% in persons aged 60-69 years, and 91.3% in persons aged 70 years or older. [5, 6]
