TY - JOUR T1 - 2022 EULAR recommendations for screening and prophylaxis of chronic and opportunistic infections in adults with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis DO - 10.1136/ard-2022-223335 SP - ard-2022-223335 AU - George E Fragoulis AU - Elena Nikiphorou AU - Mrinalini Dey AU - Sizheng Steven Zhao AU - Delphine Sophie Courvoisier AU - Laurent Arnaud AU - Fabiola Atzeni AU - Georg MN Behrens AU - Johannes WJ Bijlsma AU - Peter Böhm AU - Costas A Constantinou AU - Silvia Garcia-Diaz AU - Meliha Crnkic Kapetanovic AU - Kim Lauper AU - Mariana Luís AU - Jacques Morel AU - György Nagy AU - Eva Poleverino AU - Jef van Rompay AU - Marco Sebastiani AU - Anja Strangfeld AU - Annette de Thurah AU - James Galloway AU - Kimme L Hyrich Y1 - 2022/11/03 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2022/11/17/ard-2022-223335.abstract N2 - Objectives To develop EULAR recommendations for screening and prophylaxis of chronic and opportunistic infections in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD).Methods An international Task Force (TF) (22 members/15 countries) formulated recommendations, supported by systematic literature review findings. Level of evidence and grade of recommendation were assigned for each recommendation. Level of agreement was provided anonymously by each TF member.Results Four overarching principles (OAP) and eight recommendations were developed. The OAPs highlight the need for infections to be discussed with patients and with other medical specialties, in accordance with national regulations. In addition to biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for which screening for latent tuberculosis (TB) should be performed, screening could be considered also before conventional synthetic DMARDs, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. Interferon gamma release assay should be preferred over tuberculin skin test, where available. Hepatitis B (HBV) antiviral treatment should be guided by HBV status defined prior to starting antirheumatic drugs. All patients positive for hepatitis-C-RNA should be referred for antiviral treatment. Also, patients who are non-immune to varicella zoster virus should be informed about the availability of postexposure prophylaxis should they have contact with this pathogen. Prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii seems to be beneficial in patients treated with daily doses >15–30 mg of prednisolone or equivalent for >2–4 weeks.Conclusions These recommendations provide guidance on the screening and prevention of chronic and opportunistic infections. Their adoption in clinical practice is recommended to standardise and optimise care to reduce the burden of opportunistic infections in people living with AIIRD. ER -