Pharmacy Tech News CE Lesson

This lesson is supported by

The pharmacy technician’s role

in H1N1 prevention

INTroducTIoN

A patient presents to the pharmacy asking about the H1N1 influenza vaccine and asks if they need to get the H1N1 vaccination if they have already received the seasonal flu vaccination this fall. They are confused as to why they have to get another “flu shot” if they have already received one. Is the patient protected from the H1N1 flu by receiving the seasonal flu vaccine?

In almost any pharmacy setting, pharmacy technicians and pharmacists likely are receiving numerous questions about the H1N1 flu, which currently is sweeping across the United States and around the world. The H1N1 flu is a pandemic flu, which the World Health Organization defines as when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine. A pandemic flu spreads easily from person to person, causes serious illness and can sweep across

the country and around the world in a very short time, as we have seen with the H1N1 flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report” showed, as of the week ended Oct. 17, 46 states reporting geographically widespread influenza activity, and Guam and three other states reporting regional influenza activity. Of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to the CDC, 100% were the 2009 H1N1 virus. 1

 

Types of INflueNza VIruses

There are three types of influenza viruses: influenza A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses are the two types that most often cause disease in humans, with influenza A causing the most serious pandemics in history in 1918, 1957, 1968 and now in 2009.2

Influenza A viruses are further categorized into different subtypes based on changes in two proteins on the surface of the virus called hemag-

glutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 16 different hemagglutinin subtypes and nine different neuraminidase subtypes. The current 2009 pandemic flu has been subtyped as influenza A (H1N1).

 

dIffereNces IN sympToms of THe commoN cold, seasoNal flu aNd H1N1 INflueNza

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are not trained to diagnose diseases as physicians are; however, understanding symptoms is important to knowing when to refer a patient to seek further medical care or when an over-the-counter medication can be recommended by the pharmacist.

The common cold and influenza viruses share many of the same symptoms; thus it is not uncommon for patients to have difficulties determining if they are experiencing symptoms of the common cold or influenza. A general rule of thumb in differentiating these illnesses is through symptom

 

By: Nora Stelter, PharmD, assistant professor of clinical sciences, coordinator of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Drug Store News is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Author disclosures: Nora Stelter does not have any actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this lesson.

Universal Program Number:

401-000-09-206-H01-T

If you are mailing the answers, please write this number on the answer card.

Activity type: Knowledge-based

Initial release date: December 1, 2009

Planned expiration date: December 1, 2010

This program is worth one contact hour (0.1 CEU).

Target Audience

Pharmacy technicians in community-based practice.

Program Goal

To increase the technician’s awareness of H1N1 influenza and important prevention and treatment options for H1N1 influenza.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, the technician should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the signs and symptoms

of H1N1 influenza, seasonal influenza and the common cold.

2. Discuss methods to prevent and treat H1N1

influenza.

3. Describe the H1N1 vaccine and current CDC

recommendations for H1N1 vaccine.

4. Recognize high-risk groups associated with

H1N1 influenza.

5. Recall common patient questions about H1N1 influenza and H1N1 vaccine, and when to refer patients to the pharmacist.

To obtain credit: A minimum test score of 70% is needed to obtain a statement of credit. Submit your answers online at www.cedrugstorenews.com, and

receive your statement of credit in your CE account folder immediately. Submit by mail or fax using the answer card found in your issue and receive your printed statement of credit within seven days of receipt.

Questions regarding statements of credit and other customer service issues should be directed to Angela Sims at (800) 933-9666.

This lesson is free of charge to pharmacy technicians.

Copyright ©2009 by Lebhar-Friedman Inc.

All rights reserved.

This lesson has been developed to meet

requirements for PTCB and ICPT

recertification.

16 • Winter 2009 www.cedrugstorenews.com Pharmacy Tech News