Guidelines for the treatment of persons with influenza virus infection were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The evidence-based guidelines encompass diagnostic issues, treatment and chemoprophylaxis with antiviral medications, and issues related to institutional outbreak management for seasonal (inter-pandemic) influenza. These guidelines do not apply to avian or pandemic disease and are intended for use by physicians in the United States in all medical specialties with direct patient care. The process for developing these guidelines included a systematic weighting of the quality of the evidence and the grade of recommendation.  

The guidelines can be accessed by clicking here.

ECDC Comment (07-04-09): These are evidence based guidelines but still they need to be considered in the context of differing epidemiology across countries and varying views and policies for example on use of antivirals and to whom to offer seasonal influenza vaccines.