Lupus: Hospitalizations for Infections Continue to Rise Skin infections and pneumonia top list

The rate of hospitalization for serious infections among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been on the rise in recent decades, and has increased to a greater extent than for individuals without SLE, a national study found. A possible reason for this increase is the aging of the population, with its attendant comorbidities and more frequent use of medical interventions. But in-hospital deaths from serious infections have decreased, which may reflect the broader use of treatment guidelines. It has not been determined if similar patterns exist among SLE patients, however, who are vulnerable to infections because of their underlying disease and their immunosuppressive therapies. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/50317?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-05&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165