Infections in the management of rheumatic diseases: An update

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