Silja Bühlera, Gilles Eperonb, Camillo Ribic, Diego Kyburzd, Fons van Gompele, Leo G. Visserf, Claire-Anne Siegristg, Christoph Hatza,h
a Department of Public Health, Division of Infectious Disease / Travel Clinic, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
b Service de Médecine Tropicale et Humanitaire, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
c Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
d Department of Rheumatology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
e Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
f Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
g Centre for Vaccinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
h Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Medicine and Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland
b Service de Médecine Tropicale et Humanitaire, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
c Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
d Department of Rheumatology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
e Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
f Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
g Centre for Vaccinology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
h Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Medicine and Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland
Summary
BACKGROUND: The number of individuals with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) treated with immunosuppressive drugs is increasing steadily. The variety of immunosuppressive drugs and, in particular, biological therapies is also rising. The immunosuppressants, as well as the AIIRD itself, increase the risk of infection in this population. Thus, preventing infections by means of vaccination is of utmost importance. New Swiss vaccination recommendations for AIIRD patients were initiated by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and prepared by a working group of the Federal Commission for Vaccination Issues as well as by consultation of international experts.