Posted 8/22/2019 1:38 PM (GMT -6)
No screenings needed before starting Prednisone. That is only recommended for Remicade (and other TNF-alpha blocking bioligics like humira and simponi), as it popped up during the clinical trials, a few patients had latent TB pop up again, there was a recommendation put on the packaging to screen for TB in advance, and it is standard practice for our doctors. Thiopurines do not require screenings either (6-mercaptopurine, Imuran/azathiopurine).
Hypothetically, could prednisone or 6MP cause latent TB to popup again, sure. Either the clinical trials were done too long ago (both were initially approved decades ago), and/or there hasn't been enough of a problem to warrant adding it to the packaging.
The packaging for remicade only mentions TB. Some doctors also screen for Hep C which is another latent infection. Others could do this too.