CDC: Administer Antivirals to High-Risk Flu Patients

In response to the widespread flu activity in 2014-2015, the CDC has recommended that high-risk patients be given neuraminidase inhibitors before confirmation of flu status.

Similar to the 2012-2013 flu season, this year has seen higher rates of hospitalizations linked to the predominance of influenza A (H3N2), 66% of which are genetically different from this year’s flu vaccine. 
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The CDC health update reminds clinicians that hospitalized and high-risk patients—those who have severe or progressive illness or are younger than 2 years old or older than 64—should be given influenza antiviral medications as soon as possible, without confirmation from flu testing.

“Ideally, treatment should be initiated within 48 hours of symptom onset,” according to the recommendations.

“However, antiviral treatment initiated later than 48 hours after illness onset can still be beneficial for some patients.”

The recommendations also stress that antivirals can and should be used even in those who are not at high-risk, based on the judgment of the clinician. 

—Michael Potts

Reference:

CDC. CDC health update regarding treatment of patients with influenza with antiviral medications [press release]. January 9, 2015. http://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00375.asp. Accessed January 12, 2015.