[Role of corticosteroids in infectious disease]

Abstract

Corticosteroids, when used in prolonged treatments, increase the chances of bacterial and fungal infections. The advantage of corticotherapy combined with specific anti-infective treatment has been proven for certain bacterial and fungal infections. There is no evidence favouring the prescription of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids for infections in the ENT area. Corticosteroids, even in short-term treatments, must always be prescribed in combination with antibiotics in the course of infections. Corticosteroids make it possible to limit the deleterious effects caused by the activation of the immune system at the time of certain infections, and lesions linked to acute inflammation. The duration of the prescription of corticosteroids must be reduced to a minimum during sepsis.