When should people with HIV/AIDS receive antiviral medications for chemoprophylaxis (prevention of influenza)?
People with HIV/AIDS should be prescribed antiviral medications to prevent infection with influenza when they cannot otherwise be protected during times when there is a high risk for exposure to influenza. Use should be in accordance with current recommendations from CDC or local public health authorities. Current CDC guidance on use of chemoprophylaxis should be consulted, and updated recommendations from CDC can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ and www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu. There are no published data on interactions between anti-influenza agents such as amantidine and rimantidine and drugs used in the management of HIV infected persons. Patients should be observed for adverse drug reactions to anti-influenza chemoprophylaxis agents, especially when neurologic conditions or renal insufficiency is present.
