Microsoft word - clinician's faq 10.06.09.doc

FAQ for Clinicians
Regarding 2009 Novel
Influenza A (H1N1)

Infection Control
What type of personal protective equipment is recommended for health- care
workers (HCW) and /or patients?
CDC recommends that health-care personnel participating in direct patient care of an
individual with suspected or confirmed novel influenza A (H1N1) should use contact and
respiratory precautions that include gloves, gown, eye protection, and N-95 mask. Check
CH web site at

How long must someone with influenza-like illness or novel influenza A (H1N1) stay
home from work or school?
CDC recommends that those who are ill with symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI)
stay home from work or school until 24 hours after the fever has subsided without
antipyretic medications. However, this does not apply to health-care workers (HCW).
HCW with febrile respiratory illness should be excluded from work for 7 days or until
symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.
Must family members of those who are diagnosed with ILI or novel influenza A
(H1N1) stay home from work or school?
Family or household member of patients diagnosed with ILI or novel influenza A (H1N1)
may continue to attend school or work. They should stay vigilant for flu symptoms.
Lab Testing and Case Reporting

Who should be tested for influenza?
Due to capacity limitations, the Michigan Department of Community Health/ Bureau of
Laboratories (MDCH BOL) will not be conducting influenza testing (RT-PCR) for every
suspected pandemic H1N1 case in Michigan. Similar to traditional influenza seasons,
influenza testing at BOL during the 2009–2010 flu season will focus on outbreak
investigations and public health-directed case investigations. Testing at MDCH BOL
will be limited to the following criteria:
Outbreaks Patients with unusual presentations of flu (i.e., encephalopathy) Pregnant women with severe ILI Hospitalized patients (particularly in the ICU with severe ILI) Influenza-related deaths in both children and adults You will need to fill out a MDCH Test Request Form found at
de the reason for testing. Pre-approval
of specimens is not required at this time, but please include “reason for testing” on the
request form. Depending on the volume of specimens received at BOL for influenza
testing, a pre-approval process ma for
current status of any approval process.
What are the recommendations for sample collection and submission?
MDCH BOL recommends using any of the following for specimen collection.
Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab in viral transfer media (VTM) or phosphate buffer Nasal swab in VTM or PBS Dual NP/oropharyngeal swabs in VTM or PBS Nasal aspirates Viral isolates
Where do I send samples for diagnostic testing of patients who do not fit the above
influenza specimen testing criteria?
Several laboratories within Michigan are now performing 2009 novel influenza A
(H1N1) PCR diagnostic testing. Please refer to the MDCH BOL website at
ies that perform 2009 novel
influenza A (H1N1) PCR diagnostic testing.
Do I need to report cases of influenza?
Yes, effective September 1, 2009, report ALL laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated
hospitalizations and deaths, including both those due to seasonal influenza strains and
2009 novel influenza A (H1N1), as soon as possible, to your local health department.
Laboratory confirmation includes rapid influenza tests, RT-PCR, DFA, IFA, or culture.
Antivirals
Who should be treated with antiviral medications during the 2009–2010 influenza
seasons and which antiviral(s) should be used?
According to the CDC, the vast majority of influenza viruses currently circulating in the
U.S. and worldwide are the 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) pandemic strain. This virus
is resistant to both Amantadine and Rimantadine, but is sensitive to both neuraminidase
antivirals, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. The CDC recommends that high-risk individuals or those hospitalized with severe symptoms of ILI be treated with either Oseltamivir or Zanamivir. Early empiric treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir should be considered for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza that are at higher risk for complications including: Children younger than 2 years old Persons aged 65 years or older Pregnant women Persons of any age with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Addition information regarding treatment for high-risk individuals can be found at
.
Persons who are not at higher risk for complications or who do not have severe influenza
requiring hospitalization generally do not require antiviral medications for treatment. As
the type of strains and resistance of the virus may change throughout the season, we urge
you to refer periodically .
Who should get prophylaxis?
High-risk individuals who have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of
2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) should be considered for prophylaxis with Oseltamivir or
Zanamivir. HCWs with a recognized unprotected exposure to 2009 novel influenza A
(H1N1) may be considered for post-exposure prophylaxis. Health care personnel, who
have occupational exposures, can be counseled about the early signs and symptoms of
influenza and advised to immediately contact their health care provider for evaluation and
possible early treatment if clinical signs or symptoms develop. For more information
please check
What are the recommended doses for treatment and prophylaxis?
Please see the following table for recommended doses for treatment and prophylaxis in
adults and children. For renal dosing, refer to
.
Antiviral medication dosing recommendations for 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1)
treatment or chemoprophylaxis
Oseltamivir
Children ≥
12 months
Zanamivir
Two 5-mg inhalations (10 Two 5-mg inhalations (10 mg Two 5-mg inhalations (10 Two 5-mg inhalations (10 mg Children
Note: Table was extracted from product information for Tamiflu® and
Relenza®.
Should children <1 year of age be treated or given prophylaxis with
antiviral medications?
Yes, the CDC recommendations for antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis dosing for
infants <12 months of age are displayed below.
Dosing recommendations for antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis for children
<1 year of age
Recommended
Recommended prophylaxis
treatment dose for dose for
Age of child
Not recommended unless situation judged critical, due to limited data on use in this age group Note: Table was extracted from product information for Tamiflu® and
Relenza®.
When dispensing oral suspension, Tamiflu for children younger than 1 year of age, the
included oral dosing dispenser in the Tamiflu package should always be removed.
Pharmacists and health care providers should provide an oral syringe that is capable of
accurately measuring the prescribed milliliter (mL) dose, and counsel the caregiver how
to administer the prescribed dose. Some experts recommend weight-based dosing for
infants <12 months of age. Please see more information. For pediatric dosing, Oseltamivir can be compounded by a
pharmacist. Because of the lack of safety and dosing data on children <12 months of age,
the FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization
(). Clinicians are advised to monitor patients for adverse events.
Should pregnant women be treated or given prophylaxis with antiviral medications?
Oseltamivir and Zanamivir are "pregnancy category C" medications, indicating that no
clinical studies have been conducted to assess the safety of these medications for
pregnant women. Because pregnant women are considered to be at high-risk for
complications, treatment should be started as early as possible and should not be
postponed waiting for laboratory confirmation. Post-exposure prophylaxis for pregnant
women may be considered. For more information, please go to
.
Vaccines
When should we start seasonal flu vaccinations for healthcare workers and the
general population?

The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations
posted on August 28, 2009 state, “All persons currently recommended for seasonal
influenza vaccine, including those aged ≥65 years, should receive the seasonal vaccine as
What type of vaccine for 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) will be available?
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine is being produced by five different
manufacturers, and will be available as an inactivated injection (multi-dose or single
dose) or as a live attenuated nasal spray.
Is the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine safe?
The 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) is a strain change from the seasonal influenza. The
influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine is produced using the same well-
established process used in manufacturing seasonal influenza vaccines. The influenza A
(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine is now undergoing rigorous clinical trials at several
sites across the United States and has been FDA approved. The safety of this vaccine,
and all other vaccines, is under constant monitoring. Any adverse effects associated with
the vaccine should be reported immediately through the VAERS monitoring system at

How do clinics become vaccine providers?
To assure accurate vaccine tracking, patient recall, and adverse event monitoring, all
providers are required to use the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) to track
and document vaccine administration and dispensing. Providers will need to complete
the MCIR provider user/usage agreement form by going to
. To become an influenza A (H1N1) 2009
monovalent vaccine provider, clinics will also need to fill out an Provider Agreement
/Enrollment form can be found in the H1N1 2009 Provider Toolkit at
and submit this form to their local health department
.
Can a private clinic bill or charge for the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent
vaccine?
Private clinics cannot charge or bill for the vaccine itself or for any supplies used in the
administration of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine. Private clinics may
bill a third-party payer or charge the patient an administration fee or co-pay for
administration of the vaccine. The administration fee charged to the patient cannot
exceed the regional Medicare vaccine administration fee. More information is located
under “Program” in the H1N1 2009 Provider Toolkit at http://www.michigan.gov/flu.
What liability coverage exists for healthcare professionals that participate in
vaccination efforts?

Specific immunity from tort liability is provided through the Public Readiness and
Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act for the administration of medical countermeasures.
Please see the US Department of Health and Human Services web page for frequently
asked questions regarding the PREP act at:
v, or in the H1N1 2009 Provider T.

Who should get the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine?
ACIP recommends vaccinating as many persons as possible, with an initial focus on
groups at higher risk for complications from influenza A (H1N1) 2009. As supply
increases, vaccinations can be expanded to include larger populations. Please allow for
flexibility because vaccine availability and demand for vaccination will vary. ACIP
recommends that the following groups be targeted to receive the vaccination as early as
possible:
Pregnant women Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, Health-care and emergency medical services personnel Persons aged 6 months–24 years Persons aged 25–64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
Once providers meet the demand for vaccine among persons in these initial target groups,
vaccination is recommended for all persons 25 through 64 years of age. Current studies
indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for
younger age groups. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has
been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older.
How many doses of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccine will someone need?
Anyone 10 years of age and older will only need 1 dose. Children 9 years of age and
under will need 2 doses of vaccine even if they have had seasonal flu vaccine in the past.
This is different from the seasonal influenza guidelines that recommends children 8 years
of age and under get 2 doses of seasonal flu vaccine if this is the first year they are
getting a flu vaccine. This means that some children will need 4 doses of flu vaccine (2
seasonal doses and 2 Influenza A H1N1 2009 doses).
Who is eligible to get the nasal spray forms of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 and/or
seasonal flu vaccines?
Healthy persons between the ages of 2 and 49 years of age are eligible to get the nasal
influenza vaccine. Those that have underlying medical problems, pregnant women or
children who have a history of asthma or wheezing should not get the nasal influenza
vaccines. Household and close contacts of persons who are severely immunosuppressed
requiring a protective environment should be vaccinated with injectable flu vaccine or if
receiving nasal 2009 H1N1 vaccine, they should refrain from contact with these persons
for 7 days.
Which health care workers should not get the LAIV nasal spray form of the
influenza A (H1N1) 2009 and/or seasonal flu vaccine?

Only health care workers who are performing direct care of individuals who are severely
immunsupressed (e.g. persons in a protective environment, such as, bone marrow
transplant patients) should not get the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). All
other health care workers under the age of 49 years, who are otherwise healthy and not
pregnant, are eligible to get LAIV. Health care personnel who are pregnant or have
chronic medical conditions other than severe immunosuppression may administer nasal
2009 H1N1 vaccine.
Should vaccines for seasonal influenza and the novel influenza A (H1N1) be given at
the same visit?
It depends on the type of vaccine. Whether for seasonal influenza or novel influenza A
(H1N1), do not give the live attenuated vaccines together at the same visit. The use of
LAIV for both seasonal influenza and novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccines is permissible
as long as the doses are separated by 4 weeks.
Administration of the different types of vaccines for seasonal and 2009 novel
influenza A (H1N1)
Can be given
at the same
Vaccines

Who is included as part of the target group of health-care providers (HCP)?
Health-care providers include those who have the potential for exposure to patients or
contaminated materials/surfaces. This includes (but are not limited to) physicians,
nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, emergency medical service personnel,
dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and
trainees, and contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility (MMWR 58 (RR-
10), Aug 28, 2009).
HCP in acute-care hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, physicians' offices,
urgent care centers, outpatient clinics, home health care, and emergency medical services
would also be part of the HCP target group. Those staff who are not involved in direct
patient care (i.e., housekeeping personnel, clerks) but who have the potential for exposure
to infectious agents that can be transmitted to or from HCP should be considered as part
of this target group. It is anticipated that frontline HCP and those with the greatest risk
for exposure would be the first to receive vaccine.
Should patients on antivirals get a vaccine for seasonal flu or novel influenza A
(H1N1)?
Administration of trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV) or influenza A
(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine and influenza antivirals during the same medical visit
is acceptable. The effect on safety and effectiveness of LAIV co-administration with
influenza antiviral medications has not been studied. However, because influenza
antivirals reduce replication of influenza viruses, LAIV should not be administered until
48 hours after cessation of influenza antiviral therapy. Furthermore, influenza antiviral
medications should not be administered for 2 weeks after receipt of LAIV. Persons
receiving antivirals within the period 2 days before to 14 days after vaccination with
LAIV should be revaccinated at a later date. More information can be found at:
.
Do people who were diagnosed with flu still need to get vaccinated?
Unless MDCH BOL diagnosed an individual as a confirmed case of 2009 novel influenza
A (H1N1), then that individual should be immunized with influenza A (H1N1) 2009
monovalent vaccine. Please see the CDC web site at
for more information.

Source: http://www.bellevue-schools.com/document/page_1_FAQ%20for%20Clinicians%20Regarding%202009%20Novel%20Influenza%20A%20(H1N1).pdf