To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Immune-Modulating Therapies May Carry Risks of Serious Non-TB Infections URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/221F12.htm Doctor's Guide May 26, 2008
NEW YORK -- May 26, 2008 -- Results from a survey published in the June 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases suggest that drugs commonly prescribed for patients with immunologic disorders may carry risks of serious infections other than tuberculosis. The survey was conducted via the Emerging Infections Network of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. There were 426 network members in North America who reported on the tuberculosis or nontuberculosis mycobacterial infections they had seen in the previous 6 months. The survey indicated that there may be a greater risk of other serious infections in these patients. Survey respondents reported 73 cases of Staphylococcus aureus, 56 cases of histoplasmosis, and 32 cases of nontuberculosis mycobacterial infections among patients using immune-modulating therapies compared with only 17 cases of tuberculosis. Kevin Winthrop, MD, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, said, "Our findings suggest that nontuberculosis mycobacterial infections, histoplasmosis, and invasive S aureus infections might all be occurring more frequently than [tuberculosis] in this setting within the United States." Screening for tuberculosis prior to initiating anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy should continue, concluded the authors. However, physicians should be vigilant for tuberculosis -- as well as nontuberculosis mycobacterial infections -- in patients who are starting or already using these drugs. This is particularly true in patients with underlying lung disease from rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema, or other conditions. In addition, the researchers suggested that physicians should also be vigilant for mycobacterial infections in patients using rituximab (Rituxan), because a small number of the cases reported in this series occurred in patients using this medication. SOURCE: Clinical Infectious Diseases --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.