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Therapeutics
Oseltamivir was safe and effective for prophylaxis of influenza in the frail elderly

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.7.1.10

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    (2001) J Am Geriatr Soc 49, 1025. Peters PH Jr, Gravenstein S, Norword P. , et al. . Long-term use of oseltamivir for the prophylaxis of influenza in a vaccinated frail older population.. Aug;. :. –31.
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 QUESTION: In frail older people in a residential setting, is oseltamivir (a neuraminidase inhibitor) safe and effective in preventing influenza A and B?

    Design

    Randomised (allocation concealed** placebo controlled trial with 8 weeks of follow up.

    Setting

    31 residential homes or sheltered accommodations for seniors in 5 countries during the 1998–99 influenza season.

    Participants

    572 people who were ≥ 65 years of age, resided in care homes for seniors, and scored ≥ 7 on a Mental Status Questionnaire. Exclusion criteria included antibiotic treatment for acute upper respiratory tract infection, otitis media, bronchitis, or sinusitis, and antiviral treatment for influenza in the previous 2 weeks. 548 people (mean age 81 y, 69% women), of whom 80% were vaccinated against influenza, received ≥ 1 dose of study drug and …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: F Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

    • For correspondence: Dr P H Peters Jr, South Texas Medical Research Associates, 6547 Bandera Road, Suite C, San Antonio, TX 78238, USA.

    • ↵* See glossary.

    • ↵† p Value calculated from data in article.