| Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus The ASCP Foundation, with support from Roche Laboratories, is distributing a free toolkit for influenza prevention and management in long-term care. To see a description and order a copy, go here. News February 2 - CDC reports 3 outbreaks of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in long-term care facilities in 3 states Although older adults tend to be less vulnerable to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus than younger adults, long-term care facility residents can become ill with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The CDC recommends that “LTCF residents should receive seasonal influenza vaccination, and should be vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 after assessment of vaccine availability at the local level indicates that demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met.” Link to story in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5903a3.htm *************** December 7 - The CDC has updated interim recommendations for use of antiviral medications in the treatment and prevention of influenza for the 2009-2010 season. Read them here. *************** November 16 - CMS issues a patient education poster with information on Medicare and Medicaid funding for H1N1 vaccines. Download it here. *************** November 9 - CDC Update on Antivirals Quick Facts for Clinicians on Antiviral Treatments for 2009 H1N1 http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/antivirals/facts_clinicians.htm CDC Updated Antiviral Safety Information http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/antivirals/safety_info.htm *************** October 21 - Update on antiviral drug use for influenza The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Health Advisory: Recommendations for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons with Suspected Influenza who are at Increased Risk of Developing Severe Disease. The advisory is at this link: http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00299 The CDC has also updated the Interim Recommendations for the Use of Antiviral Medications in the Treatment and Prevention of Influenza for the 2009-2010 Season. The updated recommendations are at: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/recommendations.htm A podcast (7 minutes) is also available from the CDC on “Antiviral Drugs for the 2009-2010 Influenza Season.” The podcast is at: http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=175219 *************** October 19 - ASCP Update on the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Shortage ASCP has prepared a summary report on the status of seasonal influenza vaccine supply. The report provides results of an e-mail survey of ASCP members on the extent of the shortage, and results of communication with CMS and CDC staff about the shortage of seasonal influenza vaccine in long-term care. Also included is an excerpt from the State Operations Manual, which instructs surveyors to avoid citing nursing facilities for deficiencies relating to influenza immunization when there is a shortage of supply. Click here to view the report. *************** October 17 – CDC Update on Influenza Vaccine for 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Supply Status http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccinesupply.htm Question and Answers: Allocation and Distribution of Swine Flu Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/statelocal/centralized_distribution_qa.htm Questions and Answers: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm *************** October 16 - Update on Tamiflu for Oral Suspension The FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization to permit the continued use of 12 lots of Tamiflu for Oral Suspension that are past the manufacturer's expiration date. For lot numbers and details, check this FDA Web page: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm154962.htm The FDA has issued a Public Health Alert about medication errors reported with Tamiflu for Oral Suspension. The dropper that is packaged for use with the oral suspension is calibrated in milligrams, but most physicians and other prescribers are issuing dosage instructions by volume (milliliters or cubic centimeters). This has led to some errors in the dosage administered. The FDA Public Health Alert is on this Web page: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm183649.htm Because of shortages of supply of Tamiflu for Oral Suspension, emergency compounding of the oral suspension from Tamiflu 75 mg capsules is sometimes necessary. The approved compounding procedure is included in the professional prescribing information and results in a 15 mg/ml suspension. The commercial Tamiflu for Oral Suspension has a concentration of 12 mg/ml when reconstituted according to instructions. The FDA has provided more information about compounding of Tamiflu suspension, along with a dosing table, at this Web page: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm183878.htm The FDA has also created a Web page with dosages and dosing instructions for use of Tamiflu in infants less than 1 year of age. This Web page is at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm183870.htm *************** October 15 - Update on Shortage of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released talking points about the current shortage of seasonal influenza vaccine. As of October 9, 82 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine have been distributed. A total of 114 million doses are expected to be made available this year. This is approximately the same number of doses that were consumed last year. Some manufacturers are reporting that the remainder of their supplies of seasonal influenza vaccine may not be available until November. Some manufacturers also took orders for more vaccine than they will be able to deliver. At this time, 99% of the influenza virus in circulation in the United States is of the pandemic H1N1 strain. Since the strains of influenza contained in the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine are not yet appearing in the United States, a delay of a few weeks for seasonal vaccine administration should not be clinically significant. ASCP is working to help ensure that long-term care residents are given priority for access to remaining supplies of the vaccine. *************** October 14 - CDC Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/ill-hcp.htm Questions and Answers about CDC’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/guidance/control_measures_qa.htm CDC Questions and Answers Regarding Respiratory Protection for Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza among Healthcare Personnel http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/ill-hcp_qa.htm *************** October 8 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an update on the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine and antiviral medications. The update is at this link: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForHealthProfessionals/UCM185724.pdf CMS has created a Web page with links to resources and information about seasonal influenza for the 2009-2010 flu season. The link is: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/Flu_Products.pdf The CMS Web page with information about 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 The CDC has announced a new surveillance system for monitoring influenza-like illness in emergency departments. The system is called "Distribute." Details are at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5839a5.htm CDC has released new and updated resource documents for clinicians. These include: H1N1 Clinicians Questions and Answers http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/clinicians_qa.htm Key Facts about H1N1 Influenza Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm Update on Influenza A (H1N1) Monovalent Influenza Vaccines http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5839a3.htm *************** September 28 - The CDC has updated the Questions and Answers document on antiviral medications. Additional information about pediatric use of antivirals has been added, along with more background information. The updated document is located at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm The World Health Organization has identified two situations where antiviral resistance to the pandemic influenza virus is more likely to develop, and provides advice for managing these situations. Resistance continues to be rare. WHO has detected only 28 samples of resistant viruses from more than 10,000 clinical specimens collected worldwide. Details are available at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_antiviral_use_20090925/en/index.html The CDC had an opportunity to evaluate the rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) during two school outbreaks of pandemic influenza in Connecticut, by comparing results with the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The specificity was good (86%), but the sensitivity was only 47%. This means the test provides a high rate of false negative results. These results affirm recent CDC recommendations against using negative RIDT results for management of patients with possible 2009 pandemic influenza infection. Here is a link to the study results: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5837a1.htm *************** September 22 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a letter to pharmacists about the 2009-2010 influenza season. The primary focus of the letter is on availability and use of antiviral medications. Click here to view or download the letter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated recommendations for the use of antiviral medications in the treatment and prevention of influenza for the 2009-2010 season. This document is located at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm *************** News Archives Resources on 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Swine Flu Web Page CDC Interim Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Persons with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Flu and Close Contacts CDC Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Flu Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting RSS Feed of CDC Updates on Swine Flu U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Swine Flu Page U.S. Food and Drug Administration Influenza - Antivirals Web Page World Health Organization - Swine Flu Web Page State H1N1 Flu Websites U.S. Government Pandemic Flu Planning and Prevention Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist for Long-Term Care and Other Residential Facilities General Influenza Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Seasonal Influenza Web Page U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Influenza Resource Page Influenza Resources for Long-Term Care CDC Infection Control Measures for Preventing and Controlling Influenza Transmission in Long-Term Care Seasonal Influenza in Adults and Children—Diagnosis, Treatment, Chemoprophylaxis, and Institutional Outbreak Management: Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America CDC Guideline: Using Antiviral Medications to Control Influenza Outbreaks in Institutions ASCP Briefing Room: Infection Control in Long-Term Care The Long Term Care Professional Leadership Council's joint statement: “Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1): Implications for Long-Term Care.” Managing Influenza in LTC - A Comprehensive Toolkit available free from the ASCP Foundation, with support from Roche Laboratories CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health Care Settings Institute for Healthcare Improvement How-to Guide: Improving Hand Hygiene Available products from ASCP Product Development Partner Med-Pass: Handwashing In-Service Infection Control P/P Manual To get your own RSS feed from the CDC directly use this link http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/createrss.asp?t=r&c=252 |
