Pandemic Influenza Planning in Nursing Homes: Are We Prepared?

Overview

Journal J Am Geriatr Soc

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2007 Sep 5

PMID 17767687

Citations 11

Authors

Lona Mody

Sandro Cinti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Avian influenza or Influenza A (H5N1) is caused by a viral strain that occurs naturally in wild birds, but to which humans are immunologically naïve. If an influenza pandemic occurs, it is expected to have dire consequences, including millions of deaths, social disruption, and enormous economic consequences. The Department of Health and Human Resources plan, released in November 2005, clearly affirms the threat of a pandemic. Anticipating a disruption in many factions of society, every segment of the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, will be affected and will need to be self-sufficient. Disruption of vaccine distribution during the seasonal influenza vaccine shortage during the 2004/05 influenza season is but one example of erratic emergency planning. Nursing homes will have to make vital decisions and provide care to older adults who will not be on the initial priority list for vaccine. At the same time, nursing homes will face an anticipated shortage of antiviral medications and be expected to provide surge capacity for overwhelmed hospitals. This article provides an overview of current recommendations for pandemic preparedness and the potential effect of a pandemic on the nursing home industry. It highlights the need for collaborative planning and dialogue between nursing homes and various stakeholders already heavily invested in pandemic preparedness.

Citing Articles

Using Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and High Isolation of Asymptomatic Carriers to Contain the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Nursing Homes.

Schmidt A, Garcia Y, Pinheiro D, Reichert T, Nuno M Life (Basel). 2022; 12(2).

PMID: 35207468 PMC: 8877375. DOI: 10.3390/life12020180.

Wearables for the Next Pandemic.

Hedayatipour A, McFarlane N IEEE Access. 2021; 8:184457-184474.

PMID: 34786293 PMC: 8545280. DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3029130.

The experiences of cooperation among healthcare workers who participated in COVID-19 aid mission in China: A qualitative study.

Wang A, Liu L, Zhu J, Chen X, Tang S, Bai X J Clin Nurs. 2021; 30(17-18):2696-2707.

PMID: 34196060 PMC: 8446990. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15774.

The Psychological Consequences of the COVID-19 on Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes.

Mo S, Shi J Work Aging Retire. 2021; 6(4):254-259.

PMID: 34192005 PMC: 7665707. DOI: 10.1093/workar/waaa021.

Partnering with Local Hospitals and Public Health to Manage COVID-19 Outbreaks in Nursing Homes.

Montoya A, Jenq G, Mills J, Beal J, Diviney Chun E, Newton D J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020; 69(1):30-36.

PMID: 33034039 PMC: 7675453. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16869.

References

Gabrel C . Characteristics of elderly nursing home current residents and discharges: data from the 1997 National Nursing Home Survey. Adv Data. 2001; (312):1-15. View

Doyle A, Bonmarin I, Levy-Bruhl D, Le Strat Y, Desenclos J . Influenza pandemic preparedness in France: modelling the impact of interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006; 60(5):399-404. PMC: 2563983. DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.034082. View

POTTER C . A history of influenza. J Appl Microbiol. 2001; 91(4):572-9. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01492.x. View

Kilbourne E . Influenza pandemics: can we prepare for the unpredictable?. Viral Immunol. 2004; 17(3):350-7. DOI: 10.1089/vim.2004.17.350. View

Webster R, BEAN W, Gorman O, Chambers T, Kawaoka Y . Evolution and ecology of influenza A viruses. Microbiol Rev. 1992; 56(1):152-79. PMC: 372859. DOI: 10.1128/mr.56.1.152-179.1992. View

Meltzer M, Cox N, Fukuda K . The economic impact of pandemic influenza in the United States: priorities for intervention. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999; 5(5):659-71. PMC: 2627723. DOI: 10.3201/eid0505.990507. View

Cox N, Subbarao K . Influenza. Lancet. 1999; 354(9186):1277-82. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)01241-6. View

Palese P . Influenza: old and new threats. Nat Med. 2004; 10(12 Suppl):S82-7. DOI: 10.1038/nm1141. View

Karwa M, Currie B, Kvetan V . Bioterrorism: Preparing for the impossible or the improbable. Crit Care Med. 2005; 33(1 Suppl):S75-95. DOI: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000151070.56915.22. View

10.

Osterholm M . Preparing for the next pandemic. N Engl J Med. 2005; 352(18):1839-42. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp058068. View

11.

Cinti S . Pandemic influenza: are we ready?. Disaster Manag Response. 2005; 3(3):61-7. PMC: 7110849. DOI: 10.1016/j.dmr.2005.05.002. View

12.

Schoch-Spana M, Fitzgerald J, Kramer B . Influenza vaccine scarcity 2004-05: implications for biosecurity and public health preparedness. Biosecur Bioterror. 2005; 3(3):224-34. DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2005.3.224. View

13.

Belshe R . The origins of pandemic influenza--lessons from the 1918 virus. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(21):2209-11. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp058281. View

14.

Cinti S, Chenoweth C, Monto A . Preparing for pandemic influenza: should hospitals stockpile oseltamivir?. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2005; 26(11):852-4. DOI: 10.1086/502507. View

15.

Webster R, Peiris M, Chen H, Guan Y . H5N1 outbreaks and enzootic influenza. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006; 12(1):3-8. PMC: 3291402. DOI: 10.3201/eid1201.051024. View

16.

Monto A . Vaccines and antiviral drugs in pandemic preparedness. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006; 12(1):55-60. PMC: 3291404. DOI: 10.3201/eid1201.051068. View

17.

Mody L, Langa K, Malani P . Impact of the 2004-2005 influenza vaccine shortage on immunization practices in long-term care facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006; 27(4):383-7. PMC: 3319392. DOI: 10.1086/503179. View

18.

Mounier-Jack S, Coker R . How prepared is Europe for pandemic influenza? Analysis of national plans. Lancet. 2006; 367(9520):1405-11. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68511-5. View

19.

Skelton A . Private sector planning, preparedness, and response activities to reduce the impact of pandemic influenza. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2006; 12(4):381-7. DOI: 10.1097/00124784-200607000-00012. View

20.

Toner E, Waldhorn R, Maldin B, Borio L, Nuzzo J, Lam C . Hospital preparedness for pandemic influenza. Biosecur Bioterror. 2006; 4(2):207-17. DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2006.4.207. View