Influenza Treatment

Treatment

Supportive Therapy for Hospitalized Patients

O₂ Therapy

Administer O₂ by face mask rather than nasal prongs

Goal of O₂ Therapy

Maintain >80 mmHg PaO₂ and >90% SaO₂ (95% for pregnant women)

Continuous O₂ therapy is indicated for:

Patient with PaO₂ <80 mmHg
Hypotension
Metabolic acidosis with bicarbonate <18 mmol/L
Respiratory distress with respiratory rate >24 breaths/minute

Cautions

Use of nebulizers and high air-flow O₂ masks have been potentially implicated in the nosocomial spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome
- Use these measures only if clinically justified and apply them under strict infection control including airborne transmission precautions

Hydration and Nutrition

Assess for volume depletion
Administer IV fluids if necessary
Patients who are hospitalized for prolonged periods may require increased nutritional support (enteral, parenteral)

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Rapid antigen test: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

Pearl Toh, 23 Oct 2021

While rapid antigen test is less sensitive than conventional nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) such as RT-PCR* in detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus, “a test does not have to be perfect to be clinically useful,” said Professor Angela Caliendo during a session in IDWeek 2021 — echoing the maxim that perfect should not be the enemy of good in the pandemic era.

Multipathogen testing an essential part of Test-Target-Treat strategy for respiratory illnesses

Dr. Mohan Ravuru, Dr. Johnny Sinon, Assoc Prof. Nuntra Suwantarat, 16 Dec 2022

At a recent webinar, experts discussed the paradigm shift in respiratory illnesses and treatment practices as the COVID-19 pandemic transitions to an endemic phase. The late Dr Mohan Ravuru, Physician Researcher and former Asia Pacific Medical Director, Abbott, Dr Johnny Sinon, Senior Emergency Physician from Makati Medical Center, Philippines, and Associate Professor Nuntra Suwantarat, Infectious Disease Specialist, from Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thailand, delivered informative presentations and engaged the audience through a stimulating panel discussion.

Among the topics covered were the ‘immunity debt’ phenomenon leading to potential epidemics, challenges in the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza, and the importance of point-of-care, multipathogen testing as a part of the Test-Target-Treat strategy in respiratory diseases.