Researchers Recommend Education for GI Physicians on Immunization for IBD Patients

Boston University and Boston Medical Center researchers have recommended educational programs on vaccinations directed to gastroenterologists who prescribe immunosuppressive agents after their research showed limited knowledge of immunizations for inflammatory bowel disease patients, according to a study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
For their research, 1,000 gastroenterologists were asked to complete a 19-question electronic survey regarding suitable vaccines for the immune-competent and immunosuppressed IBD patient and the barriers to recommending the vaccines. The researchers also assessed the perceived role of the gastroenterologist versus the primary care physician.

The researchers analyzed 108 responses, and results include the following:

•    Only 56 (52 percent) of the gastroenterologists took an immunization history most or all of the time.
•    Approximately 20-30 percent of gastroenterologists would erroneously recommend MMR, herpes zoster, varicell) to their immune-suppressed IBD patient.
•    In addition, 24-35 percent of gastroenterologists would incorrectly not give the three queried live, attenuated vaccinations to their immune-competent patients.
•    Of the inactivated vaccines, knowledge of the HPV vaccine was particularly poor.
•    Gastroenterologists were more likely to make the correct vaccine recommendations for their immunocompetent IBD patients.

Read the news release about gastroenterologist knowledge on vaccinations for IBD patients.

Related Articles on IBD:
10 Recent Gastroenterology Studies Making Headlines
C. Diff Increases Risk of Death 6-Fold in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
IBD Patients Experience Higher Incidence of Coronary Artery Disease

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