Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
A disproportionality analysis of surgical site infections across multiple sclerosis disease modifying therapies
Alexandra Balshi1, John Dempsey2,3, Nova Manning2
1Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. alexandra_balshi@hms.harvard.edu.
Background And Objective:
People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may be at an increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, the role of specific MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in modulating this risk remains underexplored.
Methods:
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was used to investigate if MS DMTs are associated with disproportionally higher SSI reporting compared to other FAERS medications for individuals of all ages and those over the age of 50.
Results:
We identified 769 reports of SSIs across MS DMTs (352 in PwMS aged 50 or older) and 21 SSI-associated deaths. A pooled analysis of all DMTs revealed increased risks of SSIs (reporting odds ratio [ROR] of 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80-2.12) for all age groups and for those 50 or older (ROR of 2.58, 95% CI 2.27-2.92). For both age groups, ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a met Evan's threshold for disproportionally high SSI reporting compared to all other FAERS medications.
Conclusion:
MS DMTs are collectively associated with disproportionately high SSI reporting, especially for PwMS over the age of 50, with ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a increasing SSI reporting risk in both age groups. These findings reveal a need to take extra precautions when caring for PwMS in a surgical setting, such as engaging wound care teams to minimize SSI risk.
Insights
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) show increased surgical site infection (SSI) reporting. Ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a were specifically linked to higher SSI risks in all age groups.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Pharmacovigilance
Background:
- People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may face a higher risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
- The specific impact of MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on SSI risk is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if MS DMTs are associated with disproportionally higher SSI reporting compared to other medications.
- To analyze SSI reporting in individuals of all ages and those over 50.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
- Compared SSI reporting rates for MS DMTs against other FAERS medications across different age demographics.
Main Results:
- Identified 769 SSI reports linked to MS DMTs, including 352 in patients aged 50+ and 21 deaths.
- Pooled analysis showed increased SSI risk for all DMTs (ROR 1.95) and for those 50+ (ROR 2.58).
- Ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a demonstrated disproportionately high SSI reporting in both age groups.
Conclusions:
- MS DMTs are collectively linked to higher SSI reporting, particularly in patients over 50.
- Ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a specifically increase SSI reporting risk.
- Enhanced precautions and wound care team involvement are recommended for PwMS undergoing surgery to mitigate SSI risk.
