Abstract
The AMMI Canada Guidelines document 'The use of antiviral drugs for influenza: A foundation document for practitioners', published in the Autumn 2013 issue of the Journal, outlines the recommendations for the use of antiviral drugs to treat influenza. This article, which represents the first of two updates to these guidelines published in the current issue of the Journal, aims to inform health care professionals of the increased risk for influenza in long-term care facilities due to a documented mismatch between the components chosen for this season's vaccine and currently circulating influenza strains. Adjusted recommendations for the use of antiviral drugs for influenza in long-term care facilities for this season are provided.
Highlights
The purpose of this guidance document is to inform physicians and other health care practitioners of an increased risk of influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCF) during the 2014-2015 influenza season in Canada, and to provide recommendations for adjustment to LTCF outbreak control measures on the basis of documented vaccine mismatch
Significant genetic and antigenic differences have been identified so far in 2014-2015 among circulating A(H3N2) viruses compared with the 2014-2015 H3N2 vaccine component chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the northern hemisphere [4,5]
In the context of this significant vaccine mismatch, enhanced emphasis and expanded recommendations for antiviral use during LTCF outbreak control are needed while influenza A(H3N2) activity shows signs of spiking in several parts of Canada
Summary
The purpose of this guidance document is to inform physicians and other health care practitioners of an increased risk of influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCF) during the 2014-2015 influenza season in Canada, and to provide recommendations for adjustment to LTCF outbreak control measures on the basis of documented vaccine mismatch. B. The majority of influenza A(H3N2) viruses (>95%) characterized far in Canada this season show genetic and antigenic evidence of mismatch to the vaccine strain (A/Texas/50/2012[H3N2]-like) that had been chosen in February 2014 by the WHO for inclusion in the 2014-2015 trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines for the northern hemisphere [4,5].
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