Impact of biologic agents on infectious diseases

Until recently, inflammatory diseases, collagen vascular diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and multiple sclerosis were met with a limited offering for treatment. The introduction of biologic agents has revolutionized the approach to these diseases, offering many patients freedom from disease activity staving off resultant destruction to organs and joints with marked improvement in quality of life and disability. This article focuses on the development of serious infections associated with the use of biologic agents. Presented is a synthesis of case series, reports, and systematic reviews to elucidate implicated pathogens and clinical presentations in patients being treated with biologic agents and to form a cursory backbone for prevention and treatment strategies to which clinicians prescribing these agents or encountering patients already on these agents can readily refer. Maintenance of a high index of suspicion is imperative for the prevention and appropriate treatment of serious life-threatening infections in these patients.