Assisstant Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases UC Davis Medical Center Sacramento, California, United States
Disclosure(s):
Derek Bays, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Presentation Description / Summary: In human medicine there has been significant experience with traditional methods of immunosuppression that are common in veterinary medicine, such as steroids and other agents, particularly cyclosporine. These patients pose a challenge both in human medicine and veterinary medicine, but with the advent of newer, more targeted medications, there is an increase in incidence and severity of secondary infections in the human population. This talk will review the mechanism of novel immunosuppressant agents and how this increases risk of opportunistic infections compares to other commonly used medications. We will discuss current literature surrounding prevention and treatment of these patients in human medicine, and how that may differ to patients on more traditional immunosuppressant agents. We will review management practices in human medicine that could be adopted for veterinary patients on currently available medications, and how adaptation of newer agents for the veterinary market may impact treatment considerations in future.
Learner Outcomes: 1. Identification of potential risk factors for secondary infections in patients receiving immunosuppressant medications and how these might be mitigated 2. Understanding of the differences in care and treatment that are required for patients who develop an infection while on an immunosuppressant drug 3. Understanding of the mechanism of action of newer immunosuppressant agents and how these may impact patients when they are available for veterinary use
