TY - JOUR
T1 - Adherence with oseltamivir chemoprophylaxis among workers exposed to poultry during avian influenza outbreaks in southern Israel
AU - Belmaker, Ilana
AU - Lyandres, Michael
AU - Bilenko, Natalya
AU - Dukhan, Larissa
AU - Mendelson, Ella
AU - Mandelboim, Michal
AU - Shahar-Rotberg, Liora
AU - Bitran, Einat
AU - Yossef, Yochi
AU - Grotto, Itamar
PY - 2009/3/1
Y1 - 2009/3/1
N2 - Objectives: To determine adherence with recommended pre- and post-exposure oseltamivir prophylaxis (OP) among workers exposed to poultry during five simultaneous avian influenza (AI) H5N1 outbreaks in poultry farms in southern Israel in March 2006, as well as the efficiency of the distribution system of oseltamivir in the community. Design: Epidemiological investigation identified 201 workers exposed to poultry during AI outbreaks. They were interviewed by a public health nurse regarding adherence with recommended OP, symptoms, and possible side effects. Data were collected on type of exposure, age, sex, rate of adherence with OP, and reasons for non-adherence. For eight workers, paired sera were drawn for the determination of antibodies to H5. Data were collected on the efficiency of the distribution of oseltamivir tablets to workers in the community. Results: High adherence with OP (87.6%) was found among poultry workers during outbreaks of AI, with no difference by type of exposure, age, or sex. There was a low rate of side effects of OP (1.5%). No exposed workers developed AI and none of the eight who had paired sera drawn showed seroconversion. The distribution of OP in the community was inefficient, with 27.7% of the tablets 'lost' or returned unusable. Conclusions: These data emphasize the importance of developing efficient targeted distribution systems in the community for OP, in order to prevent human infection during AI outbreaks.
AB - Objectives: To determine adherence with recommended pre- and post-exposure oseltamivir prophylaxis (OP) among workers exposed to poultry during five simultaneous avian influenza (AI) H5N1 outbreaks in poultry farms in southern Israel in March 2006, as well as the efficiency of the distribution system of oseltamivir in the community. Design: Epidemiological investigation identified 201 workers exposed to poultry during AI outbreaks. They were interviewed by a public health nurse regarding adherence with recommended OP, symptoms, and possible side effects. Data were collected on type of exposure, age, sex, rate of adherence with OP, and reasons for non-adherence. For eight workers, paired sera were drawn for the determination of antibodies to H5. Data were collected on the efficiency of the distribution of oseltamivir tablets to workers in the community. Results: High adherence with OP (87.6%) was found among poultry workers during outbreaks of AI, with no difference by type of exposure, age, or sex. There was a low rate of side effects of OP (1.5%). No exposed workers developed AI and none of the eight who had paired sera drawn showed seroconversion. The distribution of OP in the community was inefficient, with 27.7% of the tablets 'lost' or returned unusable. Conclusions: These data emphasize the importance of developing efficient targeted distribution systems in the community for OP, in order to prevent human infection during AI outbreaks.
KW - Adherence
KW - Avian influenza
KW - Oseltamivir prophylaxis
KW - Outbreak
KW - Side effects
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60849126392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.06.037
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.06.037
M3 - Article
C2 - 18922718
AN - SCOPUS:60849126392
SN - 1201-9712
VL - 13
SP - 261
EP - 265
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 2
ER -
