Best Practices Recommendations for Influenza Management: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Seasonal influenza is a serious public health problem worldwide resulting in hospitalizations and deaths. Children younger than two years of age and adults 65 years of age or older and persons with medical conditions that place them at greater risk for complications from influenza are most seriously affected. The Cochrane Method for Systematic Review was used for this review. The purpose was to identify relevant published articles on the management of seasonal influenza in adults, specifically with antiviral pharmacotherapy. Databases searched for this review included: PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Google. Results of this review concluded that neuraminidase inhibitors decreased the duration of influenza illness by less than one day compared to placebo. Neuraminidase inhibitors also reduced hospitalizations, viral shedding, and complications from influenza illness. A treatment protocol was developed to assist medical providers in the management of influenza in adults.