Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with severe influenza receiving intravenous peramivir salvage therapy in intensive care units

Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated patients with severe influenza who receive intravenous peramivir for salvage therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 71 patients with severe influenza who received intravenous peramivir therapy in the intensive care units of three medical centers between 2012 and 2016. All patients received oseltamivir or zanamivir before the administration of peramivir.

Results: A total of 44 men and 27 women with a median age of 55 years were enrolled. Fifty-five (78%) had underlying comorbidities and 57 (80%) patients were infected with influenza type A. Forty-four (62%) patients survived and 27 (38%) died. Five patients (7%) had attributable adverse events, including elevated hepatic aminotransferase levels (n = 2), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 2), leukopenia (n = 1), and skin rash (n = 1). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that initial bacteremia (odds ratio [OR], 27.59; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.36-322.07; P = 0.008) and septic shock (OR, 8.00; 95% CI, 1.69-37.90; P = 0.009) were the independent predictors of mortality. However, there was also a trend towards a positive correlation between mortality and steroid use (OR, 11.29; 95% CI, 0.67-188.86; P = 0.092).

Conclusion: As a salvage therapy, intravenous peramivir provided a survival rate of 62% and was well tolerated in patients with severe influenza. The initiation of effective antiviral treatment as early as possible within 48 h is recommended for hospitalized patients.

Keywords: Critical illness; Influenza; Intravenous peramivir; Pneumonia; Steroid.