5.3Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection
Corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets, suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection with any pathogen, including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or helminthic pathogens. Corticosteroids can: Reduce resistance to new infections Exacerbate existing infections Increase the risk of disseminated infections Increase the risk of reactivation or exacerbation of latent infections Mask some signs of infection Corticosteroid-associated infections can be mild but can be severe and at times fatal.
The rate of infectious complications increases with increasing corticosteroid dosages. Monitor patients for the development of infection and consider discontinuation of budesonide extended-release tablets if the patient develops an infection while on treatment. Tuberculosis If budesonide extended-release tablets is used in patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity, reactivation of tuberculosis may occur.
Closely monitor such patients for reactivation. During prolonged budesonide extended-release tablets therapy, patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity should receive chemoprophylaxis. Varicella Zoster and Measles Viral Infections Varicella and measles can have a serious or even fatal course in non-immune patients taking corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets. In corticosteroid-treated patients who have not had these diseases or are non-immune, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure to varicella and measles: If a budesonide extended-release tablets-treated patient is exposed to varicella, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin may be indicated.
If varicella develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered. If a budesonide extended-release tablets-treated patient is exposed to measles, prophylaxis with immunoglobulin may be indicated. Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation Hepatitis B virus reactivation can occur in patients who are hepatitis B carriers treated with immunosuppressive dosages of corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets.
Reactivation can also occur infrequently in corticosteroid-treated patients who appear to have resolved hepatitis B infection. Screen patients for hepatitis B infection before initiating immunosuppressive (e.g., prolonged) treatment with budesonide extended-release tablets. For patients who show evidence of hepatitis B infection, recommend consultation with physicians with expertise in managing hepatitis B regarding monitoring and consideration for hepatitis B antiviral therapy.
Fungal Infections Corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets, may exacerbate systemic fungal infections; therefore, avoid budesonide extended-release tablets use in the presence of such infections. For patients on chronic budesonide extended-release tablets therapy who develop systemic fungal infections, budesonide extended-release tablets withdrawal or dosage reduction is recommended. Amebiasis Corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets, may activate latent amebiasis.
Therefore, it is recommended that latent amebiasis or active amebiasis be ruled out before initiating budesonide extended-release tablets in patients who have spent time in the tropics or patients with unexplained diarrhea. Strongyloides Infestation Avoid budesonide extended-release tablets in patients with known or suspected Strongyloides (threadworm) infection. Corticosteroids-induced immunosuppression may lead to Strongyloides superinfection and dissemination with widespread larval migration, often accompanied by severe enterocolitis and potentially fatal gram-negative septicemia.
Cerebral Malaria Avoid corticosteroids, including budesonide extended-release tablets, in patients with cerebral malaria.