Antiviral agents for influenza: molecular targets, concerns of resistance, and new treatment options.
As resistance of influenza viruses to antiviral agents continues to evolve, new issues arise concerning appropriate therapy and novel therapeutic means that target influenza infections. Emergence of novel influenza mutations may lead to phenotypic as well as clinical resistance that may become a problem in serious influenza cases. Moreover, crucial public health issues emerge such as appropriate antiviral stockpiling for prepandemic and pandemic phases. The use of antiviral agents against seasonal, avian, and pandemic influenza should be an integral part of current pandemic preparedness planning and should be based on local and international surveillance data on antiviral resistance. As we tackle such resistance issues there appears to be an urgent need for developing strategies to conserve current antivirals against influenza, develop new agents or formulations that will exploit current pharmacokinetic knowledge, and study combination regimens.
Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
Helen C
HC
Maltezou
Sotirios
S
Tsiodras
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009154:Mutation; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods
D000998:Antiviral Agents