In response to a significant number of reported cases of aggressive, severe strains of influenza virus, the CDC is urging providers rapidly treat suspected flu patients with antivirals without waiting for positive test results, according to an emergency advisory.
Additional recommendations in the advisory include:
- Encourage all patients who have not yet received a vaccine to do so for those at least six months old.
- Encourage anyone suspected of having the virus to seek care quickly to determine if antiviral medications are necessary.
- Do not wait for laboratory confirmation of flu virus to begin treatment.
- The CDC's guidelines for antiviral use from prior seasons remain the same and are found here.
- Clinical benefit of antibiotic treatment is greatest when initiated within 48 hours of symptom onset, but should be started as quickly as possible.
- Using best clinical judgment, antiviral treatment may be considered in symptomatic patients suspected to carry the illness who were previously healthy.
- Although vaccination is the best prevention method for flu, vaccination history does not rule out infection in patients displaying symptoms associated with the virus.
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