Best Practices for Treating Flu in Immunocompromised Patients

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Influenza, or the flu, is a seasonal respiratory virus that’s typically no more than a nuisance for most of the population. However, for immunocompromised patients, influenza is a serious illness with potentially life-threatening complications. Patients with conditions like HIV/AIDS or those receiving immunosuppressive medications will need to be identified early and treated quickly by nurses and doctors.

Because it’s so common, it’s easy for staff to miss important signs and symptoms or lack the experience to take critical action. Keeping current on the latest variants and best practices is a yearly task, and courses like Solving the Viral Mystery: COVID-19, Influenza, and Beyond ensure healthcare professionals always have the best information available.

Whether it’s the height of influenza season or there’s just a bug going around, here’s everything you should know about prevention and best practices when treating flu in immunocompromised patients.

Who is Most at Risk?

Patients who are immunocompromised simply can’t protect themselves against infection as well as those with full immunity. They’re not only at increased risk for getting the virus but will tend to experience more severe symptoms. As a result, immunocompromised individuals exhibit much higher hospitalization rates than average.

Healthcare professionals should be aware of the following risk factors:

• People with HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight infections.
• People with cancer: Cancer treatment such as radiation or chemo can weaken the immune system.
• Transplant recipients have compromised immune systems due to the medications they take to prevent the rejection of the transplanted organ.
• People with autoimmune disorders: Autoimmune disorders cause the immune system to attack healthy cells in the body.
• The very young and very old: Children younger than five years and people older than 65 years are at a higher risk of getting severe illness from the flu.

Prevention is Priority

The number one way to manage the flu is to not get sick in the first place. Whenever possible, immunocompromised patients should also be isolated from other patients to avoid transmission, and hospital staff should be particularly conscious about hygiene and contact with other people who may be experiencing respiratory illnesses.

Also, even though influenza is highly contagious, simple prevention behaviors can go a long way in stopping the spread. Every frontline healthcare professional should make education for immunocompromised patients and their loved ones a top priority by sharing the following best practices.

Vaccination

Immunocompromised patients can get the flu vaccine, and it should be considered in consultation with other relevant healthcare providers. While getting vaccinated may not completely prevent transmission, it can lessen the severity of symptoms, shorten the course of the illness, and increase the effectiveness of interventions when treating flu in immunocompromised patients.

It’s also important to stress the value of getting vaccinated yearly. Multiple strains of the flu exist, and seasonal flu shots are focused on preventing the most popular variants researchers believe will be most prevalent that year.

Hand Hygiene

Frequently washing hands or using antimicrobial hand gels can have a significant impact on the spread of the flu, but it can be especially effective for immunocompromised patients. Good hand hygiene needs to be taught to the patients and the people close to them to minimize the risk of transmission.

Social Distancing

Avoiding crowds and keeping socially distant during flu season is strongly recommended for vulnerable populations. This doesn’t mean immunocompromised people should completely isolate themselves, but common-sense guidance can help them make less risky choices. For instance, choosing a movie or reservation time during off-peak hours can significantly reduce the transmission of respiratory illnesses.

This is also an important consideration for friends and family. While they may not be at serious risk for illness, thoughtful social distancing may prevent them from bringing the flu back to their loved ones.

Supportive Care

Rest and good hydration are important in supporting your body's natural mechanisms for recovery. When your body is sick with the flu or another type of respiratory virus, there are common symptoms that can lead to dehydration including fever, cough, gastrointestinal difficulties, and a loss of appetite.

A lack of fluids makes it harder for a patient’s body to fight off infection, so monitoring a patient’s hydration levels is key—especially for immunocompromised patients who may face compounding issues relating to underlying conditions. Over-the-counter medication should also be considered when appropriate in consultation with their primary provider to manage symptoms. Fever, body aches, and diarrhea are all examples of symptoms that can benefit from over-the-counter medications or prescriptions as appropriate.

Antiviral Medications

Some people simply don’t realize that antibiotics are not effective in treating the flu virus. Antiviral medications may be prescribed, and while these are typically used less commonly, it’s worth educating patients on these points to avoid unnecessary stress and conflict. This may be especially true for immunocompromised patients and their family members who may already be experiencing heightened anxiety.

Antiviral medications work by inhibiting the replication of the influenza virus, potentially reducing the severity and duration of flu symptoms. Antivirals are most effective when started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset, and common antiviral options for flu include Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir).

Although the recommendation is to begin taking antivirals within 48 hours, starting them later can still be beneficial, especially when treating flu in immunocompromised patients.

Immunoglobulin Therapy

Immunoglobulins are proteins that are also known as antibodies. They help the body fight infection and disease and have been used successfully in the management of viral illnesses like the flu and COVID-19.

Immunoglobulins are naturally produced by B cells and plasma cells which are types of white blood cells. When administering immunoglobulin therapy, these additional antibodies help the body fight infection. Immunoglobulin therapy can be used in immunocompromised people who are at a high risk of severe illness or complications from the flu and may be administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

Keeping Immunocompromised Patients Safe from Respiratory Illness

Immunocompromised patients are an especially vulnerable population that demands specialized consideration from healthcare professionals. Even a short period of contact can result in an infection in a hospital or clinic, and nurses need to be prepared from the outset to mitigate potential risks, identify symptoms, and implement effective treatment measures.

Premiere is helping to ensure all healthcare professionals have the facts they need for preventing and treating flu in immunocompromised patients. Courses like Solving the Viral Mystery: COVID-19, Influenza, and Beyond deliver practical information with straightforward interventions that can help protect against many communicable respiratory illnesses.

All courses created by Premiere are created by industry experts, and give healthcare professionals the tools they need to meet their obligations and stay current with the latest best practices for care.