Table 1.
Infection | Tests | Recommended screening | Vaccine |
TB | LTB should be tested by a combination of patient history, chest X-ray, TST and QFT-G | Yes | Always contraindicated during immunosuppressive therapy and in children exposed in utero to anti-TNF, up to 6 mo of age, like any other live vaccine |
Clostridium difficile | Enzyme immunoassay Against toxin A and B and PCR assays | Not necessary | Not available |
S. Pneumonia | Culture of relevant clinical samples (blood, CSF, good respiratory sample), urine | Not necessary | Yes |
HBV | Blood test for HBsAg, anti-HBsAb and HBcAb to determine HBV status. In patients with positive HBsAg, viremia HBV-DNA should also be quantified | Yes | Recommended standard or double dose schedule |
HCV | HCV serology | Yes | Not available |
CMV | CMV serology | No | Not available |
HIV | Blood test for HIV serology | Yes | Not available |
VZV | VZV serology | Yes | Vaccine available, vaccinate before starting immune suppressants |
HPV | Cervical cytology | Yes | Recommended |
HSV | HSV serology | Not necessary | Not available |
EBV | EBV serology | Advisable | Not available |
Influenza virus | clinical signs and laboratory evaluation | Not necessary | Recommended |
TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; TB: Tuberculosis; LTB: Latent tuberculosis; TST: Tuberculin skin test; QFT-G: Quanti FERON TB-Gold; PCR: Polymerase chain reaction; CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; CMV: Cytomegalovirus; HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; VZV: Varicella zoster virus; HPV: Human papillomavirus; HSV: Herpes simplex virus; EBV: Epstein-Barr virus.