This page provides an index of current advice about influenza topics, from both the HPA and other agencies. Several documents appear under more than one topic, please click on the links below to take you to the appropriate section:

Antivirals, treatment and prophylaxis
Antiviral resistance
Bacterial co-infection
Critical care
Health Protection
Infection control
Pregnancy
Vaccination 

Antivirals, treatment and prophylaxis

News

• 12 December 2011 HPA guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza, 2011-12 (PDF, 339 KB) 
• 4 January 2011 letter from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer: Update on supply and availability of antivirals for children under 1 year of age - including prescribing details. [external link]

Guidance

• 12 December 2011 HPA guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza, 2011-12 (PDF, 339 KB)
• February 2009 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): Guidance on use of amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment of influenza  [external link]
• September 2008 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): Guidance on use of oseltamivir, amantadine and zanamivir for the prophylaxis of influenza [external link]
• 24 January 2011 Typical Q&As received on influenza vaccination and use of antivirals (PDF, 73 KB)

Antiviral resistance

Guidance

• 17 October 2011 HPA policy on influenza antiviral susceptibility surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of resistance: 2011-12, United Kingdom (PDF, 796 KB)  

Bacterial co-infection

News

• 14 January 2011 Health Protection Report Vol 5 No 2 : Increased incidence of invasive bacterial infection potentially linked to influenza activity.This news article describes the Increase in December 2010 in invasive bacterial pathogens which may be associated with influenza co-infection.
•  11 January 2011 letter from the CMO: Influenza, Meningococcal Infection And Other Bacterial Co-Infection Including Pneumococcal And Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection (iGAS)  [external link]

Critical care

News

• 24 December 2010 advice from RCOG:  CMACE Emergent Theme Briefing #2 Maternal Mortality due to A/H1N1 2009 Influenza Virus [external link to a Word docx file for download]
• 20 December 2010 advice from RCOG: CLINICAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANCY UPDATE:  Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in pregnancy [external link]
• 14 December 2010 letter from the CMO:Treatment guidelines for patients with influenza 2010/2011. [external link] The purpose of this letter is to update colleagues across the health service on appropriate guidelines for the treatment and management of patients with influenza in secondary care and other settings

Guidance

• 7 January 2011 Critical care management of children with H1N1 (2009) (PDF, 206 KB) 
• 7 January 2011 Critical care management of adults with influenza including H1N1 (2009) (PDF, 639 KB)

Health protection

Guidance

Infection Control

Guidance

• 12 January 2012 Infection Control for Respiratory Tract Infections (PDF, 158 KB)

Pregnancy

News

• 29 September 2011 RCOG encourages all members working in the NHS to have their flu shots [External link]
• 1 February 2011: H1N1 (2009) winter flu: Updated advice for providers of maternity services (PDF, 58 KB) 
• 24 December 2010 advice from RCOG:  CMACE Emergent Theme Briefing #2 Maternal Mortality due to A/H1N1 2009 Influenza Virus [external link to a Word docx file for download]
• 23 December 2010 letter from director of immunisation, DH: to clarify advice on the seasonal flu vaccine for pregnant women [external link]

Guidance

• 17 December 2010 advice from Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists: Update on H1N1 winter flu: urgent advice for providers of maternity services (PDF, 50 KB)

Vaccination

News

• 26 October 2011 Voluntary recall - Preflucel influenza vaccine [external link]
• 26 October 2011 The mandatory collection of data on the vaccination of frontline healthcare workers against influenza during the 2011/12 influenza season
• 31 August 2011 The Seasonal Flu Immunisation Programme 2011/12 [external link]
• 21 April 2011: Statement on narcolepsy and vaccination [external link]

Guidance

• Influenza vaccination and immunisation
• 24 January 2011 Typical Q&As received on influenza vaccination and use of antivirals (PDF, 73 KB)  

 

• Guidance on responding to cases or outbreaks of Seasonal Flu 2010/11 in prisons and other closed institutions within the criminal justice system in England (PDF, 59 KB)
  This document has been produced jointly by the HPA and Offender Health. It provides clear guidance on how to manage isolated cases/outbreaks of seasonal influenza in prisons and other places of detention, taking into consideration the special circumstances associated with them.
  Added/updated: 22 December 2010
  
• Investigating Respiratory Illness in Care Homes (PDF, 70 KB)
  Guidelines for HPUs investigating acute respiratory infections in care homes
  Added/updated: 22 November 2010
  
• Investigating Respiratory Illness in Schools (PDF, 92 KB)
  Guidlines for HPUs investigating acute respiratory infections in schools
  Added/updated: 22 November 2010
  
• Update on H1N1 winter flu: urgent advice for providers of maternity services (PDF, 50 KB)
  Issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for severe influenza infection caused by the H1N1 (2009) virus. Vaccination now will protect pregnant women and new babies this winter.
  Added/updated: 6 January 2011
  
• Influenza Vaccine and Immunisation
  Added/updated: 7 January 2011
  
• Influenza - NICE guidelines
  Added/updated: 7 January 2011
  
• Guidelines for managing outbreaks of respiratory illness in care homes (PDF, 85 KB)
  Added/updated: 19 December 2011
  
• HPA policy on influenza antiviral susceptibility surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of resistance: 2011-12, United Kingdom (PDF, 796 KB)
  Version 1.5. This paper sets out HPA policy on the surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of antiviral resistant influenza, 2010-11, which will support the reporting of UK information to WHO.
  Added/updated: 15 November 2011
  
• Critical care management of children with H1N1 (2009) (PDF, 206 KB)
  A paediatric practice note for the management of critically ill children with H1N1 (2009) influenza
  Added/updated: 11 January 2011
  
• Pharmacological treatment and prophylaxis of influenza (PDF, 330 KB)
  This document has been written in response to a rapidly evolving situation and are currently under review based on feedback from clinicians; adult & paediatric. The guidance may change as more epidemiological and virological data becomes available, so please look at the website regularly.
  Added/updated: 12 January 2011
  
• Typical Q&As received on influenza vaccination and use of antivirals (PDF, 73 KB)
  A quick reference for health professionals, to address questions about treating influenza.
  Added/updated: 24 January 2011