World Health Organization officials Nov. 12 called on physicians to expand their use of antivirals in patients with pandemic influenza A(H1N1) to prevent complications, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Dr. Nikki Shindo, WHO’s medical officer for the clinical aspects of influenza at the WHO Global Influenza Program, said in a press conference that the agency had updated its guidance on antiviral use in at-risk groups and patients with persistent symptoms.

The new guidance states that people with flu symptoms need to be treated with antivirals as soon as possible if they are in the following at- risk groups: pregnant women, children younger than 2 years old, and those with underlying health conditions such as respiratory conditions that make them vulnerable to influenza.

In addition, those patients who are not in these at-risk groups, who have persistent or rapidly worsening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or a high fever that last more than 3 days, should also receive antivirals. For those who have developed bacterial pneumonia, patients should receive both antibiotics and antivirals, she said.

Dr. Shindo said those with colds or mild H1N1 symptoms should not use antivirals.

“In some countries, hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed with the number of patients they are treating,” she added. “One way to save lives and lighten the burden of the health care system is to prevent severe disease.”

Meanwhile, British health officials said England was experiencing a continued flat trend in the number of new cases of the pandemic virus treated. The Health Protection Agency stated there were 64,000 cases of pandemic influenza in the week ending Nov. 8, down slightly from the 84,000 the preceding week and the 78,000 the week before that.

The schools have recently reconvened from a school break, known as a half-term in Britain, and officials said the flat trend of the last weeks may reflect that.

“Experienced epidemiologists tells that the impact of a half-term is over 2 weeks,” Dr. Liam Donaldson, England’s chief medical officer, said in a press briefing.

The latest data, culled from HPA’s QSurveillance system through Nov. 10, indicate an upturn in all age groups 14 and younger, as well as age groups 65 and older, Dr. Donaldson said.

By Nov. 13, “virtually all” general practitioners will have received their first shipment of vaccine, Dr. Donaldson said. That delivery will allow the GPs to work through about half of their risk group population, said David Salisbury, director of immunization at the Department of Health.

“We will be well-placed to get through our risk groups,” Mr. Salisbury said.

Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Global Medical News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

世界卫生组织(WHO)官员于11月12日号召医师扩大抗病毒药物的使用，来治疗大流行性甲型流感(H1N1)，以预防并发症、降低住院率和死亡率。

 

Nikke Shindo博士是WHO全球流感项目临床方面的专家，她在新闻发布会上说到，WHO已更新了针对高危人群和有持续症状病人的抗病毒药物使用指南。

 

新的指南指出，如果下列高危人群有流感样症状，应尽快开始抗病毒治疗，这些高危人群包括：孕妇、≤2岁的幼儿、有呼吸道基础疾病因而易于患流感的病人。

 

此外，即使病人不属于高危人群，只要症状迅速恶化，出现如呼吸困难或超过3天的发热，也应接受抗病毒治疗。她强调，对于发展为细菌性肺炎的病人，应同时接受抗生素和抗病毒药物治疗。

 

Shindo博士说，有感冒或轻微H1N1症状者不应使用抗病毒药物。

 

“在一些国家，医院和门诊挤满了前来就诊的病人，”她说，“一个挽救生命和减轻医疗系统负担的办法是预防严重疾病的发生。”

 

同时，英国的卫生官员说，英格兰大流行性甲型流感的新发病例数趋于平稳。英国健康保护局(HPA)说，截止11月8日的一周，大流行性流感病例数为64,000，较前一周的84,000和再前一周的78,000有所下降。

 

最近，英国一些学校已经结束了期中假期，再次开学，卫生官员们说前几周放缓的趋势可能反映了这一点。

 

Liam Donaldson博士是英国首席医学官员，他在一次新闻发布会上说，“有经验的流行病学家们表示，期中假期的影响超过了2周。”

 

Donaldson博士说，HPA QSurveillance系统11月10日的最新数据表明，≤14岁和≥65岁人群的病情状况正在好转。

 

Donaldson博士称，到11月13日，“几乎所有的”全科医师都将收到第一批疫苗。卫生部免疫部门主任David Salisbury说，这样一来，全科医师们可以对约半数的高危人群进行免疫接种。

 

Salisbury说，“我们完全有能力帮助我们国家的高危人群。”

 

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