title: Role of neuraminidase inhibitor chemoprophylaxis in controlling nosocomial influenza: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An influenza outbreak might result in disruption of services at acute care setting hospitals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the use of neuraminidase inhibitor chemoprophylaxis for prevention of nosocomial spread of influenza in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the 3-year study period, 202 index cases of influenza [30 hospitalized patients and 172 healthcare workers (HCW)] and 762 individuals who had had close contact with the index cases (248 hospitalized patients and 514 HCW) were identified. Of these contacts, 416 received neuraminidase inhibitor chemoprophylaxis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When both the index cases and the close contacts were hospitalized patients, the incidence of influenza was lower among the close contacts who received chemoprophylaxis than among those who did not (odds ratio, 0.07; confidence interval, 0.01-0.49; P = 0·012). In contrast, when the index cases were HCW, the incidence of influenza was not different between close contacts who did or did not receive chemoprophylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that chemoprophylaxis might be useful to prevent nosocomial spread of infection between hospitalized patients.
authors: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. fhiga@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
authors: Futoshi
authors: F
authors: Higa
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Tateyama
authors: Miyuki
authors: M
authors: Tomishima
authors: Sakiko
authors: S
authors: Mukatake
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Yamashiro
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Owan
authors: Shusaku
authors: S
authors: Haranaga
authors: Jiro
authors: J
authors: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014764:Viral Proteins; D009439:Neuraminidase