Legionellosis and biologic therapies

Abstract

Background Biologic therapies are widely used in inflammatory diseases, and they are associated to an increased infection risk, especially to granulomatous and intracellular infections such as Legionella. Results A review of the literature revealed 105 cases of Legionella pneumonia in patients taking biologic therapies. Sixty-four patients (65.3%) were treated with infliximab, 23 (23.5%) with adalimumab, 5 (5%) with etanercept and 3 (3%) with rituximab. Seventy-one per cent of the patients were treated for rheumatologic diseases and 16% for inflammatory bowel diseases. The majority of the patients received one or more concomitant immunosuppressive drugs, especially steroids (43%). Overall mortality was 19%. Legionella pneumonia might complicate therapy with biologic therapies, especially in patients being treated with infliximab or adalimumab given concomitantly with other immunosuppressive medications during their first 6 months of treatment. Conclusion Physicians should be aware of this potentially severe association. Early recognition and treatment would likely result in reduced morbidity and mortality. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.