• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Use of prophylactic antivirals and care home characteristics associated with influenza in care homes with confirmed outbreaks

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Public Health. 2019 Sep 15;177:48-56. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.07.018. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]Use of prophylactic antivirals and care home characteristics associated with influenza in care homes with confirmed outbreaks.[/h] Shah A[SUP]1[/SUP], Harries AD[SUP]2[/SUP], Cleary P[SUP]3[/SUP], McGivern M[SUP]4[/SUP], Ghebrehewet S[SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h] 1 Public Health England (PHE), North West Health Protection Team (Cheshire &Merseyside), UK. Electronic address: Anjila.Shah@phe.gov.uk. 2 International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 3 Public Health England Field Service North West, UK. 4 Public Health England North West Health Protection Team (Cumbria & Lancashire), UK. 5 Public Health England (PHE), North West Health Protection Team (Cheshire &Merseyside), UK.

[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]OBJECTIVES:[/h] To assess the association of antiviral prophylaxis and care home characteristics with the spread and severity of influenza-like illness in care homes with influenza outbreaks in North West England in the 2017/2018 influenza season.
[h=4]STUDY DESIGN:[/h] This is a retrospective observational study.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] Routinely collected outbreak surveillance data reported to Public Health England were extracted from health protection electronic records. Data included use of antiviral prophylaxis, influenza-like illness or confirmed influenza, hospital admissions and deaths. Care home characteristics were obtained from the Care Quality Commission website. Single variable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations between care home characteristics, antiviral prophylaxis and influenza-related outcomes.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] In the 109 homes, there were 3498 residents; of whom, 855 (24%) developed an influenza-like illness. Antiviral prophylaxis was given to residents of 67 of the 109 care homes with outbreaks (61%). A significantly higher attack rate was observed among residents of homes given antiviral prophylaxis (27%) than among residents of homes not given antivirals (20%) (P < 0.001). Significantly more deaths occurred in homes for people with learning disabilities and homes that received antiviral prophylaxis (P < 0.001).
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] In homes given antiviral prophylaxis, there were a higher number of residents with influenza-like illness and deaths. To improve our understanding of the impact of antiviral prophylaxis use in real life, enhanced and timely data collection is needed for identification of temporal associations between exposure and administration of antiviral prophylaxis. Consideration needs also to be given to ensure people with learning disabilities are protected through the seasonal influenza vaccine and timely antiviral prophylaxis when appropriate.
Copyright ? 2019 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Dementia; Influenza-related deaths; Learning disability; Oseltamivir; Public Health England; SORT IT

PMID: 31533085 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.07.018
 
Back
Top Bottom