Oseltamivir adherence and tolerability in health care workers treated prophylactically after occupational influenza exposure

Abstract

This survey of health care workers who were prescribed oseltamivir prophylaxis after occupational exposure to 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) documents their adherence, adverse effects, development of influenza-like illness, and knowledge and beliefs about the treatment and transmission of influenza. Adverse effects occurred in 15 of 36 participants evaluated (41.6%). The majority of the participants understood that influenza is highly infective and would take oseltamivir again, although 40.5% (15 of 37) thought they had not been given sufficient information about adverse effects.