[Infection prophylaxis in rheumatic diseases].

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Infections significantly impact morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases.
• Infection risk is multifactorial, influenced by age, comorbidities, disease activity, and immunosuppressive therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline key factors influencing infection risk in rheumatic disease patients.
• To provide strategies for mitigating infection risk in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• Review of factors affecting infection risk in rheumatic disease.
• Discussion of management strategies including disease control, comorbidity treatment, and preventative measures.

Main Results:

• Rheumatic disease activity and immunosuppressive treatments are major drivers of infection risk.
• Optimizing disease control, treating comorbidities, and appropriate prophylactic measures are crucial.
• Antirheumatic treatments, like long-term glucocorticoids, can increase risk, while optimized disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can reduce it.

Conclusions:

• Reducing rheumatic disease activity and managing comorbidities are primary strategies to lower infection risk.
• Intensified monitoring of high-risk patients and optimizing antirheumatic and prophylactic treatments are essential.
• Optimized vaccination status and prophylactic antibiotics/antivirals further reduce infection risk in patients with rheumatic diseases.