Friday, February 26, 2010

Early Oseltamivir Therapy May Reduce Viral Shedding in 2009 H1N1 Virus Infection

During the pandemic containment response in Singapore, all patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results for pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 were hospitalized, given oseltamivir for 5 days, and discharged when daily PCR results for combined nasal and throat swab samples became negative.


Prolonged viral shedding was noted in young immunocompetent adults with mild pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 despite receipt of oseltamivir. When prescribed during the first 3 days of illness, oseltamivir shortened the duration of viral shedding.


Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/651083

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