Effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors for prevention of influenza
Deonandan R, Mensinkai S, Hodgson A
Record ID 32007000126
English
Authors' objectives:
This report investigates the evidence about the use of two neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs), zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), for the prophylaxis of influenza. What is the evidence for effectiveness in termsof demonstrated harm (side effects and drugresistance) and benefit from oseltamivir andzanamivir prophylaxis (post-exposure, outbreak, seasonal or prolonged) versus other medical care or no prophylaxis against influenza, including avian influenza, for people with or without underlying health conditions, long-term care residents, health care workers with or without close patient contact, household contacts, and public health responders?
Authors' recommendations:
There is enough evidence to conclude that the antiviral drugs zanamivir and oseltamivir are effective in preventing the acquisition of common LCI, and are well tolerated by healthy humans and those whose health is compromised (the elderly and those living in LTCF).
There is no evidence about prophylaxis among very young children, pregnant women, or HCWs, though there is no reason to expect that HCWs would respond differently from other healthy people. There is no strong evidence that these drugs provide protection against ILIs. These agents are most effective inproviding seasonal prevention, though there is a dearth of evidence on the safety of prophylactic use after a few weeks.
The evidence in this report reflects data from seasonal influenza and isolated outbreak situations; it may be impossible to generalize to a pandemic scenario.
There is no evidence on the use of these drugs for public health responders and HCWs, and no evidence about the drugs- performance in post-exposure prophylaxis for people with underlying health conditions.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2007
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Enzyme Inhibitors
- Neuraminidase
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections
Contact
Organisation Name:
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Contact Address:
600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;
Contact Name:
requests@cadth.ca
Contact Email:
requests@cadth.ca
Copyright:
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.