Health Protection and Influenza Research

Evidence Reviews 

Numerous evidence reviews have been undertaken for national and international public health agencies including the UK Department of Health and World Health Organization on influenza and other related topic areas of public health importance.

 

Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients

Summary

Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of influenza-related complications and many national guidelines recommend annual vaccination of this population.

We report a public health policy interpretation of a systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic. Vaccination of this population provides clinical protection from influenza, although serological outcomes were inferior to those observed in immunocompetent controls.

We conclude that national and international public health policies should recommend influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients. This systematic review was commissioned by the Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization.

Publications

 
 

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the effectiveness of convalescent plasma for the treatment of severe acute respiratory infections with a viral aetiology

Summary

HPIRG was commissioned in July 2013 by the World Health Organization to undertake a systematic review on the effectiveness of convalescent plasma for the treatment of severe acute respiratory infections with a viral aetiology.

This review is being conducted to inform the evidence base on potential therapies for treating cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and is due to report in 2013.

 
 

Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing community transmission

Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis has studied the evidence for effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors to prevent community transmission of influenza.

HPIRG was commissioned by the World Health Organization to undertake this study, which is anticipated to inform World Health Organization guidelines for rapid containment for pandemic influenza.

An abstract from this systematic review has been accepted for presentation at the Options for the Control of Influenza VIII conference in Cape Town on 5-10 September 2013.

 
 

Impact of international and internal travel restrictions on the spread of human influenza

Summary

This systematic review has studied the evidence for international and internal travel restrictions for the rapid containment of human influenza.

HPIRG was commissioned by the World Health Organization to undertake this study, which is anticipated to inform World Health Organization guidelines for rapid containment for pandemic influenza.

An abstract from this systematic review has been accepted for presentation at the Options for the Control of Influenza VIII conference in Cape Town on 5-10 September 2013.

Appendix A for 'Effectiveness of travel restrictions in the rapid containment of human influenza: a systematic review'.

 
 

Vaccination of healthcare workers to protect patients at increased risk for acute respiratory disease

Summary

We systematically reviewed the evidence on effectiveness of vaccinating healthcare workers to provide indirect protection for patients at risk of severe or complicated disease due to acute respiratory infections. All studies which met the protocol eligibility criteria investigated influenza vaccination, with the majority having been conducted in long-term residential care settings.

Whilst these studies showed consistency in the direction of a protective effect for numerous outcome measures, there was insufficient evidence to generalise this to other at-risk patient groups.

This systematic review was commissioned by the Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization.

Publications

  • Dolan GP, Harris RC, Clarkson M, et al. Vaccination of health care workers to protect patients at increased risk for acute respiratory disease. Emerg Infect Dis 2012; 18: 1225-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1808.111355
 
 

Neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza

Summary

Using existing high quality systematic reviews as a baseline, we undertook a rapid systematic review of neuraminidase inhibitors effectiveness for treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza and 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1.

We identified evidence that treating cases of laboratory confirmed seasonal influenza with neuraminidase inhibitors shortened the duration of illness. A high level of protective efficacy was also described for household-based post-exposure prophylaxis of seasonal influenza in adults. Data from observational studies of 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 demonstrated a benefit of early treatment.

This systematic review was commissioned by the UK Department of Health.

Publications

  • Beck CR, Sokal R, Arunachalam N, et al. Neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza: a review and public health perspective in the aftermath of the 2009 pandemic. Influenza Other Respi Viruses 2012; 7(Suppl. 1): 14-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/irv.12048  
 
 

evidence

 

 

Health Protection and Influenza Research

Division of Epidemiology and Public Health
Nottingham City Hospital
The University of Nottingham
Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG5 1PB


telephone: +44 (0)115 823 0276
email:Jonathan.Van-Tam@nottingham.ac.uk