Another option for unvaccinated high-risk patients is vigilant symptom monitoring with early treatment for influenza symptoms. Chemoprophylaxis is recommended in addition to vaccination to control influenza outbreaks at institutions that house patients at high risk for complications of influenza. Details on recommended antivirals including doses and duration of treatment can be found in a 2011 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.5
Antiviral treatment. The CDC recommends antiviral treatment for anyone with suspected or confirmed influenza who has progressive, severe, or complicated illness or is hospitalized for his or her illness.5 Treatment is also recommended for outpatients with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for influenza complications. This latter group includes those in Table 1, particularly children 6 to 59 months and adults ≥ 50. Start antiviral treatment within 48 hours of the first symptoms. For hospitalized patients, however, begin treatment at any point, regardless of duration of illness.
Infection control practices can prevent the spread of influenza in the health care setting and in the homes of those with influenza. These practices are also described on the CDC influenza Web site.6
References
1. Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292:1333-1340.
2. CDC. Estimates of deaths associated with seasonal influenza–United States, 1976-2007. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59:1057-1062.
3. CDC. Summary* recommendations: prevention and control of influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—(ACIP)—United States, 2013-14. www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/2013-summary-recommendations.htm. Accessed August 9, 2013.
4. CDC. Interim adjusted estimates of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness–United States, February 2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62:119-123.
5. CDC. Antiviral agents for the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011;60(RR01):1-24. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6001a1.htm. Accessed July 2, 2013.
6. CDC. Infection control in health care facilities. www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/index.htm. Accessed July 2, 2013.