Infections in the management of rheumatic diseases: An update

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 105; no. 12; p. 1076
• Main Authors: Botha-Scheepers, S A, Sarembock, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Health & Medical Publishing Group 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Antirheumatic agents; Care and treatment; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Health aspects; Immunotherapy; Infection; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatoid factor
• ISSN: 0256-9574
• DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i12.10220

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions have an increased risk of infection. While this could be the result of the underlying disease, it may also be caused by the use of immunosuppressive therapies, which are needed to treat these disorders. An increasing number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic diseases are using biologic therapies (biologics) in addition to the synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The side-effects and complications of these relatively new agents are unknown to many specialists (outside of rheumatology) and general practitioners. This article highlights updates on the most important infections encountered in the daily management of patients with rheumatic diseases and discusses how these may be prevented.