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This activity discusses the mechanism of action and clinical applications of infliximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This FDA-approved therapy addresses inflammatory conditions, including Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and severe plaque psoriasis. The program details infliximab's pharmacokinetics, dosing considerations, contraindications, and monitoring protocols, offering healthcare professionals a comprehensive understanding essential for personalized patient care. Highlighting the significance of an interprofessional approach, this initiative emphasizes the collaborative effort necessary to navigate infliximab therapy effectively. This educational endeavor aims to optimize treatment strategies, mitigate adverse events, and enhance clinical outcomes across diverse patient populations by empowering healthcare professionals with evidence-based insights. Objectives: Evaluate the mechanism of action of infliximab. Identify the adverse effects of infliximab. Assess the precautions that are necessary before administering infliximab. Communicate the importance of effective collaboration among interprofessional team members to improve outcomes and treatment efficacy for patients who might benefit from infliximab therapy. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Infliximab is usually administered by healthcare personnel in a medical setting. Toxicity is very rare. Therefore, there is no specific treatment for infliximab toxicity. The best treatment if such an event occurs is supportive treatment.

Infliximab is an effective drug for several chronic inflammatory disorders. Inflammatory bowel disease requires consultation with a gastroenterologist. For rheumatoid arthritis/psoriatic arthritis, consultation with a rheumatologist is needed. However, all interprofessional healthcare team members (clinicians, nurses, pharmacists) should work together to ensure that the patient has had a proper workup for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and cardiac status evaluated before administering the drug. Close monitoring of the patient by a specialty-trained nurse is necessary, as the drug does have mild to moderate adverse effects. A clinical pharmacist can also provide valuable input on dosing and drug-drug interactions and answer patient questions about the medication. One retrospective study aimed to evaluate the consequence of an integrated clinical pharmacy team within a tertiary academic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center. Over 1 year, 1800 referrals for advanced IBD therapies were received, including medications such as infliximab. Of these referrals, 98% of patients successfully initiated the intended treatment. Despite encountering insurance denials in 17% of cases, the team overturned many through appeals and obtained manufacturer-patient assistance programs for some patients, including those prescribed infliximab. The clinical pharmacy team also conducted over 2000 pharmacist-initiated interventions, primarily focusing on preventing therapy interruptions and providing patient education. These findings underscore the valuable role of clinical pharmacy teams in optimizing patient care and medication access within IBD centers, suggesting their integration as a best practice.[26] An interprofessional team approach and open communication between clinicians (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs), pharmacists, nurses, and specialists are necessary to optimize patient outcomes with infliximab therapy.