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JAC Advance Access originally published online on September 6, 2006
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2006 58(5):911-915; doi:10.1093/jac/dkl376
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Leading article

Use of neuraminidase inhibitors to combat pandemic influenza

Jane Democratis, Manish Pareek and Iain Stephenson*

Infectious Diseases Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LE1 5WW, UK

*Corresponding author. Tel: +44-116-258-6952; Fax: +44-116-258-5067; E-mail: iain.stephenson{at}uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Since the last influenza pandemic in 1968, neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors have been licensed for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza. Continuing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 since 2004 have focused attention on the timing of the next pandemic and preparedness plans. Although immunization is the principal means of influenza prophylaxis, a well-matched efficacious vaccine is unlikely to be widely available for several months following the emergence of the pandemic strain. NA inhibitors could be used to contain and eliminate an emerging pandemic virus at source. If unsuccessful, they could still play a crucial role in reducing the medical impact of pandemic influenza as it spreads through countries. Accordingly, many authorities are creating stockpiles of NA inhibitors. However, the use of stockpiled drugs for treatment or prophylaxis, the rapid delivery to newly diagnosed cases and unknown characteristics of an emergent pandemic strain pose significant challenges to determining optimal use of stockpiles.

Keywords: resistance , treatment , prophylaxis


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