Final answer:
New vaccine delivery systems being investigated include oral, intranasal, and topical applications. These methods aim to enhance convenience and immunogenicity by eliciting both mucosal and systemic immunity. Oral delivery is also considered appropriate for home administration of antimicrobials to treat systemic infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
New Vaccine Delivery Systems
Recent advancements in vaccine administration are exploring a variety of delivery methods to enhance the immunogenicity and convenience of vaccinations. The new methods of vaccine delivery currently being investigated include:
- Oral delivery: Vaccines like polio and typhoid are administered orally, which can be convenient for home administration and to trigger mucosal immunity.
- Intranasal delivery: An intranasal influenza vaccine is available, aiming to evoke a robust immune response by targeting the mucosal tissues.
- Topical delivery: A potential future method involving transdermal application, where the vaccine is absorbed through the skin often with the aid of microneedles.
- Intramuscular injection: The traditional delivery method with vaccines like the seasonal flu shot, typically administered in a healthcare setting.
As pathogens often replicate within mucosal compartments, novel delivery routes like intranasal and oral administration can offer more efficient immune memory. Vaccinologists are developing these new delivery systems to improve patient participation by reducing injection-associated anxiety and expanding the reach of immunizations.Mucosal immunity and systemic responses can be effectively elicited, providing similar levels of disease resistance as traditional injected vaccines.
For home administration of an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection, oral delivery (A. oral) would be the most appropriate and convenient route compared to other modes like intravenous, topical, or parenteral administration.