Adverse outcomes associated with the treatment of Toxoplasma infections

Abstract

Adverse outcomes associated with the treatment of Toxoplasma gondii infections in patients with various health backgrounds have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to identify the adverse outcomes and adverse events associated with the current clinical treatments of Toxoplama gondii infections using real world data reported to the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS). Data submitted to FAERS between 2013 and 2019 was retrieved and analyzed. Reporting odds ratio of death was calculated for the drugs having ≥ 25 reports of adverse outcomes. The adverse event profiles for the same drugs were analyzed and the reporting odds ratio was calculated relative to all other drugs used in the treatment of Toxoplasma infections. There were 503 cases reporting the treatment of Toxoplasma infections in the FAERS database. Death (DE) was the adverse outcome in 102 reports, of which 23 (22.5%) anti-Toxoplasma drugs were listed as the primary suspect drug (PS). Clindamycin (2.04; 1.07–3.90) followed by pyrimethamine (1.53; 0.99–2.36) were the most likely to be associated with death. Adverse events analysis suggest that sulfonamides formulations may have a less favorable safety profile. Our study represents the first real-world analysis of adverse outcomes and events associated with the treatment of Toxoplasma infections. Our findings support the need to better understand the current first-line agents for Toxoplasma infections, in addition to underscoring the need to identify safer regimens.