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Immune-Modulating Therapies May Carry Risks of Serious Non-TB Infections 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 E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version