Topics in Clinical Biosecurity: Influenza

Listed below are all CBN* articles on Influenza published since 2005

• 05/11/2012. H5N1 Transmission in Ferrets: Two recent studies of genetically modified H5N1 influenza viruses in ferrets have sparked international debate about the biosecurity risks of increased mammalian droplet transmissibility. The first of the papers, summarized here, has now been published. 
• 03/16/2012. Fatal Flu Cluster in Maryland Highlights Complications of MRSA: Three deaths and 1 case of severe pneumonia were recently reported in 1 MD family; H3N2 flu confirmed in all 4; MRSA in at least 2. Death from H3N2 influenza complicated by secondary MRSA pneumonia is not surprising—it can be fatal in up to 60% of cases. 
• 03/02/2012. Rapid Influenza Antigen Tests: Specific But Not Sensitive: Results of meta-analysis assessing accuracy of rapid tests vs. PCR or viral culture for influenza DX indicate that rapid tests have low sensitivity, but high specificity, which makes them most useful for confirming DX in patients with flu-like symptoms. 
• 02/03/2012. Influenza B and Severe Disease: Influenza B caused 38% of pediatric flu deaths in the 2010-11 influenza season. A CDC team analyzed autopsy data from the decade between May 2000 and February 2010 to better understand the pathology of fatal cases of influenza B. 
• 01/06/2012. Statins and Influenza: Results of a recent multistate retrospective analysis of the effect of statins on 30-day mortality of laboratory-confirmed influenza provides new evidence of the benefits of statins in reducing inflammatory changes associated with influenza. 
• 12/16/2011. Transmission of 2009 Pandemic Influenza to Healthcare Workers: A recent study reinforces the importance of droplet precautions, PPE, and other prevention measures during a flu pandemic and as standard practice for all HCWs in all healthcare settings where daily prevention of nosocomial infection is essential. 
• 12/2/2011. Does Asymptomatic H5N1 Influenza Infection Occur?: Asymptomatic H5N1 infection may be more common than thought. A new study suggests that standard methods to detect H5 antibodies are not sensitive enough; consequently, H5N1 seroprevalance may be higher and case fatality rates lower than established rates. 
• 08/19/2011. Chinese Herbal Therapy Efficacious Against Influenza: Maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (MY), was used during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in rural areas where drugs like oseltamivir were scarce. Wang et al. have now published the results of their clinical trial comparing oseltamivir with MY for treatment of H1N1 influenza. 
• 07/22/2011. Can Systems Biology Improve Influenza Immunization Practice? With a systems biology approach, the changes that occur in gene expression and metabolic pathways after vaccination can be studied to identify specific alterations that predict response to vaccination. 
• 06/24/2011. Does Antiviral Therapy Prevent Lower Respiratory Tract Complications in Influenza Patients? Oseltamivir’s efficacy in shortening the duration of influenza symptoms when administered promptly is widely accepted; however, the drug is also often used to prevent serious complications secondary to influenza, including bacterial pneumonia. 
• 06/03/2011. Influenza-Associated Heart Attacks: While the majority of deaths from influenza are caused by pneumonia and ensuing respiratory failure, influenza can also trigger many other potentially fatal conditions. The link between influenza and myocardial infarction has been difficult to establish. 
• 05/20/2011. Redefining Influenza "Pandemic": Even a mild pandemic can have serious consequences, as can the terminology and definitions that are used to describe an outbreak. Applying the refined definition should serve to capture the essential characteristics of pandemics and inform planning. 
• 02/04/2011. Healthcare Worker Mortality During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: A team of researchers from the Australian Army, funded by the DoD’s Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (GEIS), recently published results of its study of mortality among nurses and physicians during the 1918 influenza pandemic. 
• 01/06/2011. Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Pandemic Influenza: In 1918-1919, passive immunotherapy (transfusions of convalescent sera) was used as a salvage therapy, reportedly with some success. Australian researchers published their study of the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) during the 2009 pandemic. 
• Efficacy and Safety of Peramivir. November 19, 2010. 
• Influenza Update: Highlights from the 48th Annual Meeting of IDSA. October 29, 2010. 
• Universal Flu Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel: A Patient Safety Issue. October 22, 2010. 
• The Evidence for ECMO Use in Severe Influenza. June 11, 2010. 
• Universal Vaccines: Hope for the Future. May 28, 2010. 
• ACIP Endorses Universal Flu Vaccination. March 3, 2010. 
• Clinical Aspects of H1N1 Influenza A Infection. October 14, 2009. 
• Single-Dose Vaccination for the 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus. September 15, 2009. 
• Zanamivir Resistance in Influenza. August 14, 2009. 
• A Novel H3N2 Influenza A Variant Emerges. July 31, 2009. 
• 2009 H1N1 Influenza A: Clinical Details, Antiviral Resistance, and Other Mutations. July 17, 2009. 
• High-dose Influenza Vaccination of the Elderly. July 2, 2009. 
• H7-subtype Influenza Infections: Pandemic Potential? June 5, 2009. 
• Oseltamivir Protective Against Influenza-induced Cardiac Events. April 3, 2009. 
• Broad-spectrum Flu Antibodies Characterized. March 6, 2009. 
• Is Airborne Spread of Influenza Possible? January 22, 2009. 
• Modeling Drug Resistant Influenza. November 21, 2008. 
• Rising Staphylococcus aureus Co-infection among Pediatric Influenza Deaths. October 10, 2008. 
• Hong Kong Study Finds that Closing Schools May Not Have Helped Slow the Spread of Flu. September 26, 2008. 
• This Year's flu Season Marked by Vaccine Mismatch in the U.S. and Antiviral Resistance in Europe. February 14, 2008. 
• Progress Toward the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine. February 1, 2008. 
• Evidence for a Heritable Predisposition to Fatal Influenza. December 19, 2007. 
• Oseltamivir Reduces Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with Influenza. November 15, 2007. 
• Drug-Resistant H5N1 Influenza Viruses May Retain Fitness. November 1, 2007. 
• Cytokines and H5N1: Cytokines and H5N1: Still No Clear Answers. July 30, 2007. 
• Duration of Influenza A Virus Shedding Longer than Expected. July 17, 2007. 
• Highly Lethal MRSA Pneumonia Associated with Influenza. June 21, 2007. 
• Passive Immunization with Human Monoclonal Antibodies in H5N1. May 30, 2007. 
• OSHA Releases Pandemic Guidance for Healthcare Personnel. May 24, 2007. 
• Prevalence of Drug Resistant Influenza B Viruses: New Findings and Implications. April 13, 2007. 
• Seasonal Flu Vaccination May Offer Partial Immunity to H5N1. February 21, 2007. 
• Influenza Update: Diagnostic Test, Drug Resistance, and Possible Drug Interaction. November 16, 2006. 
• New Research on Antiviral Treatment of Influenza. October 13, 2006. 
• Contrary to Prevailing Beliefs, Aerosol may be Significant Mode of Flu Transmission. September 28, 2006. 
• Updated 2006 Influenza Vaccination Recommendations Released. July 5, 2006. 
• Relenza Now Approved for Prevention of Influenza A and B. April 3, 2006. 
• Oseltamivir resistance, Vietnam. December 22, 2005. 
• Influenza Associated Pediatric Deaths during 2003-2004 Flu Season. December 16, 2005. 
• Pediatric Safety for Tamilflu. November 22, 2005. 
• Flu vaccine restrictions lifted. November 14, 2005. 
• Disease Control Measures for Flu. October 31, 2005. 
• Isolation of H5N1 Influenza Virus Resistant to Oseltamivir. October 18, 2005. 
• Peramivir: Single Dose Prophylaxis for Flu? October 12, 2005. 
• Statins for Influenza. September 29, 2005. 
• Avian Influenza; Polio. May 17, 2005. 

                  
*Formerly The Clinicians' Biosecurity Network Report; title changed in July 2011