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Immunization, Passive

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Encyclopedia of Public Health

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Synonyms

Vaccination, passive; Inoculation, passive; Application of immune globulins; Immune prophylaxis

Definition

Passive immunization is a process by which antibodies are introduced into an organism. These antibodies, which are directed against a particular germ, provide an immediate protection and prevent any disease which may be caused by that particular pathogen.

Basic Characteristics

History

The first steps in passive immunization were taken in the late 19th century. The German physician and scientist Emil von Behring and the Japanese physician and bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato worked together in Berlin, focusing their research on tetanus and diphtheria (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/articles/behring/index.html). In their immunological experiments they introduced blood from infected animals into healthy animals. Animals vaccinated by this technique proved to be immune against the given germ or its toxin. From this observation the scientists concluded...

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References

  1. Deutsche Gesellschaft für pädiatrische Infektiologie e.V. (DGPI) (2003) Handbuch Infektionen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, 4th edn. Futuramed, München

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  2. Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR (2004) Infectious diseases, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia

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  3. Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (2004) Principles an practice of infectious diseases, 6th edn. Churchill Livingstone, New York

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  4. Murray PR, Baron EJ, Jorgensen JH, Pfaller MA, Yolken RH (2003) Manual of clinical microbiology, 8th edn. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

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  5. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/articles/behring/index.html.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Kinder und Jugendmedizin, Friedrich-Ebert-Krankenhaus GmbH, Neumünster, Germany

    Monika Korn

Authors
  1. Monika Korn
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Network EUROlifestyle Research Association Public Health Saxony-Saxony Anhalt e.V. Medical Faculty, University of Technology, Fiedlerstr. 27, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Professor Dr. Dr.) (Professor Dr. Dr.)

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag

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Korn, M. (2008). Immunization, Passive . In: Kirch, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Public Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_1630

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_1630

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5613-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5614-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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