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Health News
H1N1 advisory for heart/lung transplants
NEW YORK, Oct 26, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- There are additional challenges for
cardiopulmonary transplant recipients and donors if they catch H1N1 flu, U.S.
researchers say.
Physicians representing the International Society for Heart & Lung
Transplantation Infectious Disease Council issued an advisory for all programs
in cardiothoracic transplantation that aggressive diagnosis and early treatment
need be paired with active preventative measures to stem the impact of infection
in the transplant population.
Since transplant recipients are treated with anti-rejection drugs, the advisory
provides clear directions for specific dosing of anti-viral drugs and management
of the background immunosuppression. Specific guidelines for evaluation and
management of post-surgical transplant patients are also given, as well as
recommendations for how and when to administer vaccines.
On the donor side, the advisory provides guidelines for how to evaluate and
treat donors so that organs can be safely used and not wasted. Finally, it
provides specific guidelines for the healthcare teams managing such patients.
"Nowhere is the threat of H1N1 (flu) more real than in cardiopulmonary
transplantation," Mandeep R. Mehra, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Heart and
Lung Transplantation, says in a statement.
"The ISHLT's Infectious Disease Council has developed what is assuredly the most
comprehensive and clinically relevant direction for prevention and management of
H1N1 flu in donors, recipients, care providers and family members."
The guidelines are published online in the Journal of Heart and Lung
Transplantation.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright: Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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