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Infections in the management of rheumatic diseases: An update


SA Botha-Scheepers
B Sarembock

Abstract

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 diseasemodifying 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.

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574