Biologic therapy and screening for tuberculosis in a new service

Plaque psoriasis is a common skin condition that can greatly affect quality of life. Biologic therapy is an effective treatment, but it poses risks to patients, particularly concerning latent infections such as tuberculosis (TB), which may be reactivated. Medical practitioners therefore need to screen patients before commencing a biologic therapy. There are a number of screening tools for TB infection, which vary in efficacy depending on the patient being screened, and some tests can give a false-negative result for TB infection. It is important to screen for TB and to take a good clinical and lifestyle history before commencing biologic treatment. This article discusses the above in the context of setting up a dedicated clinic to monitor patients on biologic therapy for plaque psoriasis.