Risk of Infection Associated With Administration of Intravenous Iron

Key Points Question In patients who require treatment with intravenous iron, what is the evidence that this intervention increases the risk of developing a new infection? Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 154 randomized clinical trials that included 32 920 participants, intravenous iron was associated with an increased risk of infection. Meaning The results of this study suggest that, despite broad advocacy in clinical guidelines, intravenous iron may increase the risk of infection, which must be balanced with the potential benefits of treating anemia and reducing blood transfusion requirements.