Comorbid Infections in Rheumatic Diseases

Abstract

The problem of comorbid infections (CI) still retains Its significance in modern rheumatology. It has significantly increased due to the introduction of genetically engineered biological products (GIBP) into practice, the use of which is associated with the growing risk of developing CIs of various nature and localization, including opportunistic (invasive mycoses, pneumonia, etc.) and an increased risk of reactivation of latent infections, primarily tuberculosis (TB). In addition, cases of severe infections (pneumonia, sepsis, bacterial arthritis, skin and soft tissue damage, etc.), including fatal cases, are recorded. This review analyzes the literature data, mainly of the last 5 years, concerning the frequency of occurrence and localization of infections in patients with rheumato-logic profile, including during treatment with GIBP. Various infections (TB, pneumonia, chronic viral hepatitis, herpes viral infections, etc.) are characterized by the importance in the tactics of treatment of these patients. The need for wider use of immunization with various vaccines (primarily against influenza and pneumococcal infection) of patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases is emphasized.