Author: Aigerim Akhmetova
Translator: Tursunova Balkadisha
Editor: Anastasia Merentsova
More than 1.2 million people in North America suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is a condition that involves inflammation of the colon or small intestine, or both, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Many medications are used to treat IBD. Many medications used to treat IBD have a depressing effect on the immune system. As a result, the use of these medications may increase the risk of Contracting any intestinal infection. This potential increased risk of infection is particularly concerning for people who have had surgery.
In this review, researchers studied five groups of drugs for the treatment of IBD: aminosalicylates (5-ASA), corticosteroids, immunomodulators, TNF(tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors, and anti-integrin drugs. Infections were tracked for 30 days after surgery. Those treated with corticosteroids or TNF inhibitors had more infections after surgery, whereas those who took aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, or anti-integrin agents did not seem to have more infections after surgery.
These results can provide an invaluable service to doctors in choosing the most effective medications for people with IBD before performing surgery. Decisions should be made based on the unique health needs of each individual. In addition, the review points to the need for careful monitoring of infections after surgery in people taking certain types of IBD medications.
Source: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013256.pub2/full
