Changes/additions to materials (reviewed February 2010):

Seasonal and pandemic (H1N1) influenza
The Department of Health has issued two updated clinical management guidelines for pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza for adults and children and for women who are pregnant. For more details see MeReC Stop Press Blog 864

Although emerging observational data in the current swine influenza pandemic support the use of antivirals, the December 2009 update to a Cochrane review has raised questions about oseltamivir▼’s ability to prevent complications of seasonal influenza in otherwise healthy adults. For more details see MeReC Stop Press Blog 912. Users of our patient decision aid (PDA) relating to oseltamivir▼in otherwise healthy adults should note that it was based on data from the 2003 paper by Kaiser et al which is at the centre of the controversy regarding the Cochrane review’s findings. No other PDAs relating to oseltamivir▼in influenza are affected by the December 2009 Cochrane update.

We summarised the evidence on the use of oseltamivir▼in the treatment of seasonal influenza in children in MeReC Rapid Review blog 552 and in adults in MeReC Rapid Review blog 560. Note that the second blog should be read in conjunction with MeReC Stop Press Blog 912.

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Date of last update - March 2009

Date of next planned update - TBA