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Influenza in aged care facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2010

Richard I Lindley
Richard I Lindley*
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Richard I Lindley, Moran Foundation for Older Australians Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Sydney Medical School – Westmead and The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital (C24), NSW 2006, Australia. Email: richard.lindley@sydney.edu.au
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Summary

Seasonal influenza remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality for older residents in aged care facilities. Whilst prevention is best managed by high vaccination rates for the general population, residents and aged care facility staff, new research suggests that a more active approach to surveillance and anti-viral treatment now plays an important role. The practicalities of managing an influenza outbreak are complex and best planned in advance with written protocols available. Good infection control remains a vital part of prevention and outbreak control.

Keywords

influenzaaged care facilitiesnursing homesagedneuroaminidase inhibitorsinfection control
Type
Intermediate care and rehabilitation
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 91 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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