ABSTRACT
Biological medications are effective for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidence in systematic reviews or meta-analyses about the risk of infection in patients with cancer, arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease who use biological medications. We included systematic reviews or meta-analyses of controlled clinical trials and case/control studies that analyze infections during and after treatment with FDA-approved biological medications for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, both in adults and children. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, Epistemonikos, Crochrane reviews, JIB, and Prospero. A quality guideline (AMSTAR) was applied to the selected studies. We included 26 studies. The risk of infections in patients with solid organ cancer is consistent in the literature. In psoriasis there is a risk of non-serious infections. In arthritis and other inflammatory diseases there is a risk of serious infections. In inflammatory bowel disease there is a risk for opportunistic infections. In conclusion, in patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases use biological medications entails a risk of infection. The evidence is different depending on the underlying disease of each patient.
Subject(s)
Adult , Child , Humans , Psoriasis , Biological Therapy , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Infections , Neoplasms , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Biological Therapy/adverse effects , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy , Case-Control Studies , Meta-Analysis as Topic , Risk , Systematic Reviews as Topic , Infections/chemically induced , Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
Background:The incidence of bacteremia has increased over the last decade due to the aging of the population and the wide implementation of invasive nosocomial procedures and wide-spectrum antimicrobial treatments. Aim: To assess the epidemiology of hospital and ambulatory bacteremias in a public hospital in Santiago. Material and Methods: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of laboratory-confirmed adult patients with bacteremia was undertaken at a public hospital in Santiago, between June 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data was collected into a standardized study-specific form. Results: In the study period, 253 cases of true bacteremia were identified, with an incidence of 11 per 1,000 patient discharges (63.6% nosocomial, 36.7% fatal). Only 2/3 of the cohort was alive at day 28 of hospitalization. Variables associated with mortality were age with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.31; (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.42- 3.77); female gender (HR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.06- 2.71); shock (HR, 3.24; 95%CI 2.01-5.22); and C reactive protein (HR, 2.10; 95% CI 1.17- 3.78). The variable associated with lower mortality was surgery (HR, 0.43; 95% CI 0.25-0.75). Selective empiric treatment did not improve survival. Conclusions: Besides age and gender, survival can be influenced by modifiable variables such as presence of shock and surgical intervention, which may provide an opportunity to improve outcomes.