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Post-exposure prophylaxis for influenza useful in pediatric wards
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Oseltamivir and zanamivir are both safe and effective for influenza prevention in pediatric units, according to data published online recently.
Masayoshi Shinjoh, MD, PhD, of the department of pediatrics at the School of Medicine at Keio University in Tokyo, and colleagues examined 20 patients with hospital-acquired influenza between 2003 and 2011 to determine the effectiveness of influenza post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Ten of the initial patients had type A, nine had type B and one was undetermined; 17 of these infections were inpatients, two were parents and one was hospital staff. Rapid antigen detection was used in diagnoses.
Among the 81 people who came into contact with those with influenza, 28 (35%) were exposed to type A and 52 (64%) were exposed to type B. The rate of secondary infection among contacts given PEP was only 3%; both tested positive for influenza B and had been given oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Genentech). The rate of secondary infection among those contacts not given PEP was 29%. Shinjoh and colleagues reported that the 59 contacts given PEP within 24 hours for influenza A and the 15 who received zanamivir (Relenza, GlaxoSmithKline) did not develop influenza. In addition, there were no adverse events from medications.
“Before we consider PEP using an anti-influenza viral drug, it is very important to diagnose the index cases as influenza. … PEP effectiveness using oseltamivir and zanamivir in nosocomial settings may have been superior to that in household settings,” the researchers said.
Disclosure: Dr. Shinjoh reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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