BNF Chapter 8: Malignant Disease, Immunosuppression and Vaccinations

Question 1

What are immunosuppressants used to treat?

Answer 1

-Suppress rejection in organ transplant recipients
-Chronic inflammatory disease
-Chronic autoimmune diseases

Question 2

What are some drugs that patients may need to take following organ transplantation?

Answer 2

-Antiproliferative: azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil
-Calcineurin inhibitors: ciclosporin or tacrolimus
-Corticosteroids (prednisolone)
-Sirolimus

Question 3

What does the DTPP vaccine protect against?

Answer 3

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis
Polio

Question 4

In which two patient groups is the yellow fever vaccine cautioned/potentially contraindicated, and why?

Answer 4

Elderly
Immunocompromised

It is a live vaccine

Question 5

If two live vaccines are required by the same patient, how should they be given?

Answer 5

Give simultaneously at different sites, or separated by an interval of at least 4 weeks.

Question 6

Which two patient groups are live vaccines contraindicated for?

Answer 6

Pregnant women
Immunocompromised individuals

Question 7

Very little knowledge needed overall for Chemotherapy. Just remember:

-All cytotoxic drugs except vincristine and bleomycin cause bone-marrow suppression. This usually occurs 7-10 days after administration.
-Alopecia is a common complication of chemotherapy.

Question 8

HPV vaccination is recommended for all people aged 12-13.
True or False?

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Which vaccine protects against chicken pox (but isn’t commonly given due to the fact this could increase the risk of shingles and chicken pox in adults)?

Answer 9

Varicella vaccine

Question 10

Which vaccine should pregnant women have to protect their child from whooping cough?

Answer 10

Pertussis vaccine

Question 11

What does of paracetamol is recommended for the management of post-immunisation pyrexia?

Answer 11

60mg for one dose, repeat after 4-6h if needed