Influenza in long-term care facilities

Lansbury, Louise E.; Brown, Caroline S.; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S.

Abstract

Long-term care facility environments and the vulnerability of their residents provide a setting conducive to the rapid spread of influenza virus and other respiratory pathogens. Infections may be introduced by staff, visitors or new or transferred residents, and outbreaks of influenza in such settings can have devastating consequences for individuals, as well as placing extra strain on health services. As the population ages over the coming decades, increased provision of such facilities seems likely. The need for robust infection prevention and control practices will therefore remain of paramount importance if the impact of outbreaks is to be minimised. In this review, we discuss the nature of the problem of influenza in long-term care facilities, and approaches to preventive and control measures, including vaccination of residents and staff, and the use of antiviral drugs for treatment and prophylaxis, based on currently available evidence. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Citation

Lansbury, L. E., Brown, C. S., & Nguyen-Van-Tam, J. S. (2017). Influenza in long-term care facilities. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 11(5), 356-366. https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12464

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 27, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jul 10, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jul 14, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 13, 2018
• Journal: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses
• Print ISSN: 1750-2640
• Electronic ISSN: 1750-2659
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 356-366
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12464
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/872244
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/irv.12464
• Contract Date: Jul 14, 2017