Control of influenza in the long-term-care facility: A review of established approaches and newer options

Influenza infections pose a serious threat to residents of nursing homes an d other long-term-care facilities. Annual vaccination of residents and staf f with the currently licensed inactivated influenza vaccine continues to be the mainstay of prevention. Live attenuated influenza vaccine, which is ex pected to be licensed in the United Slates in the near future, may offer ad ded protection for elderly persons when administered in conjunction with in activated vaccine. Antiviral agents also can be useful as an adjunct to vac cination, especially for control of institutional outbreaks. Two new antivi ral agents that appear to be less toxic than amantadine and rimantadine hav e recently been approved (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21:59-64).