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You are a physician in charge of the patients who reside in a nursing home. Several of the patients have developed influenza-like symptoms, and the community is in the midst of an influenza A outbreak. None of the nursing home residents have received the influenza vaccine. What course of action is most appropriate?
1. Give the influenza vaccine to all residents of the nursing home who do not have a contraindication to the vaccine (allergy to eggs)

2. Give the influenza vaccine to all residents of the nursing home who do not have a contraindication to the vaccine; also give amantadine for a 2-wk period

3. Give amantadine alone to all nursing home residents

4. Do not give any prophylactic regimen

i think a? not sure

2.

2 -right Correct Answer:

The Correct Answer is: Give the influenza vaccine to all residents of the nursing home who do not have a contraindication to the vaccine; also give amantadine for a 2-wk period
Explanation:



Influenza A is a potentially lethal disease in the elderly and chronically debilitated patient. In institutional settings such as nursing homes, outbreaks are likely to be particularly severe. Hence, prophylaxis is extremely important in this setting. All residents should receive the vaccine unless they have known egg allergy (patients can choose to decline the vaccine). Since protective antibodies to the vaccine will not develop for 2 wk, amantadine can be used for protection against influenza A during the interim 2-wk period. A reduced dose is given to elderly patients.