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Adamantane Resistance in Influenza A
David M. Weinstock, MD;
Gianna Zuccotti, MD, MPH
JAMA. 2006;295:934-936. Published online February 2, 2006 (doi:10.1001/jama.295.8.jed60009).
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The global burden of influenza infection is staggering. In a typical year, approximately 20% of the world's population is infected and more than a half million individuals die of influenza-associated complications.1 During influenza pandemics, morbidity and mortality are catastrophic—20 million to 100 million individuals died in the 1918 influenza pandemic, 2 million in the 1955 pandemic, and 1 million in the 1968 pandemic.2
Vaccination is the primary means for preventing influenza infections. In addition, 2 classes of drugs are currently available for treatment and prophylaxis: the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir). Adamantanes are effective against susceptible strains of influenza A virus, whereas neuraminidase inhibitors are effective against susceptible strains of both A and B virus. All 4 agents can reduce the duration of infection by 1 to 2 days if treatment is initiated within 48 hours . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Author Affiliations: Division of Infectious Diseases (Drs Weinstock and Zuccotti) and Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Dr Weinstock), Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Dr Zuccotti is also Contributing Editor, JAMA.
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Rick A. Bright, David K. Shay, Bo Shu, Nancy J. Cox, and Alexander I. Klimov
JAMA. 2006;295(8):891-894.
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