Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Markham Stouffville Hospital

Influenza

Consults

Consider Infectious Diseases Consultation for severe illness, Age < 12 months and immunocompromised patients.

Indications for Treatment

Patients with symptom onset of less than 48 hours.

AND

Patients with risk factors for Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) complications:

  • Age greater than or equal to 65 years old

  • Age less than or equal to 5 years old

  • Age 6 months to 18 years and has been on acetylsalicylic acid for long periods (increase of Reye’s syndrome associated with influenza)

  • Pregnancy and up to 4 weeks post-partum

  • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities

  • Indigenous peoples

  • Morbid obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40)

  • Chronic cardiovascular disease

  • Chronic pulmonary disease

  • Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases

  • Renal disease

  • Anemia or hemoglobinopathy

  • Immune compromising condition (due to disease, therapy or both)

  • Malignancy

  • Neurologic or neurodevelopmental conditions (including neuromuscular, neurovascular, neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental conditions and seizures)

OR

Patients who have severe or progressive symptoms and require hospitalization for ILI.

Optimal benefits are obtained if treatment is initiated as early as possible after the onset of symptoms. Hospitalized patients may still benefit from treatment even if initiated later than 48 hours following symptom onset.