People with autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk of foodborne illnesses because their immune systems are compromised and may be unable to fight off infection. With an autoimmune disease, the immune system is compromised either by the disease or by medicine taken to manage the disease. No matter the reason, individuals with autoimmune disease are at an increased risk for contracting foodborne illnesses. Common types of autoimmune diseases and risk of foodborne illness include Multiple Sclerosis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Lupus.
Multiple Sclerosis
As treatment for multiple sclerosis involves steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs, patients are at increased risk for foodborne infection.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may include immunosuppressants, steroids, and biological therapies—all of which increase susceptibility to foodborne illness. Patients taking two or more drugs are at even higher risk of foodborne illness. Foodborne pathogens associated with immunosuppressant therapy in IBD patients include salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Toxoplasma gondii.
Lupus
The use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of Lupus increases the risk of contracting foodborne illness. Patients under immunosuppressive therapy have been shown to more easily contract foodborne illnesses from Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii, and E. coli. In Lupus patients with severe infections, the most frequently identified pathogen was E. coli.