Oseltamivir Prescription Among Infants With Influenza Increased From 2012 To 2020, Study Suggests

Infectious Disease Advisor (9/9, Kuhns) reports, “Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) prescription among infants with influenza increased significantly from 2012 to 2020, suggesting growing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s antiviral guidelines, which were updated in 2011, according to study results.” Researchers found that “a greater proportion of infants not prescribed Tamiflu vs those prescribed the drug were more likely to” be “hospitalized at time of diagnosis” and “have more severe influenza requiring oxygen treatment or pediatric intensive care unit admission.” The findings were published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Healio (9/9, Kellner) reports the research found that “presence of a fever and time since symptom onset were two factors that affected whether providers prescribed oseltamivir to infants with influenza.”