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Current Advances in the Prevention, Risk, and Management of Infection in Patients Receiving Biologic Therapy for Dermatologic Disorders

  • Infectious Disease and Dermatology (K Krishnamurthy and C Beard), Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Biologic agents such as adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab, certolizumab, ustekinumab, brodalumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab, dupilumab, alefacept, rituximab, omalizumab, tildrakizumab, and guselkumab are now indicated in the treatment of dermatologic disorders. This review reports on current prevention, risk, and management of infection in patients receiving biologic therapy for dermatologic disorders.

Recent Findings

Although risk of infection in patients receiving biologic agents for management of a dermatologic disorder is well-known, it appears to continue to be a low risk. However, optimal prevention and management of some infection risks remain an unmet need.

Summary

Although the overall risk for infection during biologic therapy for dermatologic disorders appears to remain low, there remains concern about the level of risk for reactivation of tuberculosis, as well as hepatitis B and C, and the risk for other, often uncommon, serious infection remains unknown. Continued pharmacovigilance serves to mitigate risk as well as promote optimal management of dermatologic disorders with biologic agents.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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  1. Cory A. Kosche and Yasmeen Ali contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Cory A. Kosche, Yasmeen Ali, Anna C. Figueiredo, Dennis P. West & Beatrice Nardone

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Cory A Kosche, Yasmeen Ali, Anna C. Figueiredo, Dennis P. West, and Beatrice Nardone declare no conflict of interest.

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Kosche, C.A., Ali, Y., Figueiredo, A.C. et al. Current Advances in the Prevention, Risk, and Management of Infection in Patients Receiving Biologic Therapy for Dermatologic Disorders. Curr Derm Rep 8, 141–148 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-019-0262-0

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