Arthritis and Infection Risk

Doctors have long known that people with inflammatory forms of arthritis have an increased risk of infections, which can range from mild to life threating. This increased risk can be caused by the disease itself, medications you take to treat the disease and a variety of other health and lifestyle factors.

The most likely causes of your increased risk of infection are as follows:

• The disease itself. Alterations of the immune system that occur in rheumatic diseases can impair the body’s ability to fight infection. However, these alterations probably account for only a small part of the risk, says Ali Ajam, MD, an assistant professor in the division of rheumatology and immunology at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. 
• Medications. Medications used to suppress an overactive immune system in inflammatory arthritis can also suppress the body’s ability to fight infection. 
• Age. As you get older your immune system might not work as effectively to fight infection. 
• Overall health. Other health conditions have been shown to increase infection risk. Having lung disease, kidney disease or diabetes in addition to arthritis further increases risk. 
• Lifestyle habits. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, excessive alcohol use or unsafe sex practices put you at risk.
• Hospitalizations. Hospitals are germ-filled places. The CDC estimates that about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.

How Big a Risk?

An increased infection risk may mean more frequent mild infections such as the common cold. But inflammatory arthritis is also associated with the risk of more serious infections. A serious infection is one that requires intravenous antibiotics or hospitalization. Pneumonia, staph infections and sepsis are a few examples of serious infections.

Infection risk also rises with the severity of your disease. with mild disease, your risk increases almost three-fold, while severe RA raises the risk nearly five-fold. Active inflammation can lead to reduced mobility, a greater use of immune-suppressing drugs, more hospitalizations, and more surgeries – all putting you at increased risk of infection.

Medications and Infection Risk

Drugs that suppress the immune system are the leading cause of infection risk whether someone has RA, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis, says Dr. Ajam. The magnitude of the risk as well as the specific types of infections vary with different drugs.

Studies show the greatest offender is corticosteroids. A large study published in 2016 in PLoS found the risk of some infections was two- to six-fold higher in people taking oral corticosteroids compared to that of people matched for age, gender and the underlying disease. The risk with corticosteroids is largely dependent on the dose and duration of steroid use.

Conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate and leflunomide, are often associated with infections including bronchitis and pneumonia. But a 2018 study published the Journal of Clinical Medicine suggests infection risk with methotrexate is minimal at doses used to treat inflammatory arthritis. An analysis of 12 trials found a 25% increased risk of non-serious infection in people with RA taking methotrexate.  The analysis did not show an increased risk of serious infection or any infection for people with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The risk of infections with DMARDs substantially increases when you add a biologic to the equation. Biologics are thought to increase the risk of certain types of infections like tuberculosis, pneumonia and skin and soft tissue infections.

A 2015 analysis published in The Lancet found that, compared to conventional DMARDs , biologics carry double the risk for serious infections. However, only moderate and high doses appear to be a concern; low doses of biologics had a similar risk for infections as the conventional DMARDs.
Infection risk with biologics may be different depending on the specific biologic you take. But researchers are still sussing that out.  

While the risk for serious infection is increased with biologics, the risk of uncontrolled arthritis and joint damage without them is even greater. Dr. Ajam points out that risk of infections is still relatively low and modifiable. “If a patient starts a biologic and has frequent infections, lowering the dose or switching to another often solves the problem,” he says.

Cut Your Infection Risk 

No matter your form of arthritis or the medications you take, you can reduce your risk of infection.  Some steps are common sense: Eat a balanced diet, wash your hands often, don’t smoke and get plenty of sleep. In addition, take the following critical steps.

• Get vaccinated. An annual flu shot and the pneumococcal vaccine are musts. You should also get the shingles vaccine when you’re eligible; since it contains a live virus, you must receive this shot before starting a biologic.
• Avoid sick people. If you will be exposed to others who may be ill, wear a surgical mask.
• Consider supplements. Herbal supplements containing turmeric, garlic and cinnamon may give your immune system a boost.
• Review your medications. Work with your doctor to make sure you are getting the safest medications and lowest doses of medications that controls your disease.

If you use a DMARD or biologic and develop signs of infection such as a fever, chills, sore throat or dry cough, call your doctor. While infections are an important concern for people with inflammatory forms of arthritis, good control of your symptoms should be foremost in your mind.

“Don’t be scared of your medications,” says Dr. Harrold. “Be proactive and manage the risk.”