Infection Prevention: Flu activity has increased above baseline levels

December 5, 2019

National surveillance indicates that influenza activity has increased above baseline threshold levels in the past week, with a step change in both sample positivity and admissions at a national level.

Please continue to consider influenza in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with respiratory illness, and if they are judged to be a possible case then send a flu swab and isolate them pending the result.

The microbiology department will now accept samples received for flu testing from inpatients without any requirement for additional discussion to take place.

Further information is available on the intranet at the following links:

http://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/infection-prevention-control/key-organisms/influenza/

http://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/infection-prevention-control/fit-testing-guidance/