The Utility of Screening for Coccidioidomycosis in Recipients of Inhibitors of Tumor Necrosis Factor α

Kristal Choi, Neha Deval, Anuj Vyas, Conor Moran, Stephen S. Cha, Lester E. Mertz, Shabana F. Pasha, James A. Yiannias, Janis E. Blair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) are commonly used to treat immune-mediated disorders, but they are associated with an increased risk of mycobacterial and fungal infections. We compared the outcomes of TNFi recipients screened for asymptomatic coccidioidomycosis with those of unscreened patients to compare the development of symptomatic coccidioidomycosis and to describe its outcomes for patients with abnormal coccidioidal screenings. Methods We searched electronic health records from 4 September 2010 through 26 September 2016 for all patients receiving a TNFi for dermatologic, rheumatologic, or gastroenterologic diagnoses, then categorized patients by whether or not they had undergone coccidioidal serologic testing for screening or diagnostic purposes. Results A total of 2793 patients had a TNFi prescribed. Of those, 1951 met the inclusion criteria: 1025/1951 (52.5%) never had coccidioidal screening; 925/1951 (47.4%) had serologic screening either before beginning TNFi therapy or annually, or both after beginning a TNFi. Symptomatic coccidioidomycosis developed in 35/1025 (3.4%) unscreened patients. Of those screened, 861/925 (93.1%) had negative serologic tests, of which 11/861 (1.3%) subsequently developed symptomatic coccidioidomycosis; 36/925 (3.9%) had coccidioidomycosis at screening (7, probable infection; 11, possible infection; 18, asymptomatic seropositive result); and 17 had only positive findings for immunoglobulin M antibodies and did not meet the definition for coccidioidomycosis. The unscreened cohort was more likely to have symptomatic coccidioidomycosis than the screened cohort (35/1025 vs 11/861, P <.01). Conclusions Screening for asymptomatic coccidioidomycosis within a Coccidioides-endemic area allowed for identifying and managing asymptomatic coccidioidomycosis before patients began TNFi therapy. Less symptomatic infection developed in the screened than the unscreened cohort.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1024-1030
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume68
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 5 2019

Keywords

  • TNFα inhibitors
  • biologic drugs
  • coccidioidomycosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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