Multiple myeloma and infections: a population-based study on 9253 multiple myeloma patients. The incidence of multiple myeloma in Canada is 55 per 1 000 000 people, and the prevalence is increasing.[1] Novel therapies, such as immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors, have increased progression-free 5-year survival from 29% in 1997 to 68% in 2014 among patients who have received autologous stem cell transplantation.[2] All patients with multiple myeloma should be referred early for assessment of transplant elig... Eligibility for therapy, including autologous stem cell transplant, is determined not only by age and renal function, but also by comorbidities and functional status.[3] All-cause mortality rates 100 days post-transplantation are similar for younger (40-60 yr) compared with older (>= 60 yr) patients (1% v. 2%).[3] Bisphosphonates are recommended for all patients with multiple myeloma, regardless of evidenc... Zoledronic acid and pamidronate prevent osteopenia, lytic disease and fractures. Prophylactic antibiotics, immunoglobulin replacement and inactivated vaccines may mitigate in... Disease- and treatment-related factors confer a 10-fold and sevenfold increased risk of viral and bacterial infections, respectively, for patients with multiple myeloma.[5] Prophylactic fluoroquinolone is often prescribed by the specialist team within the first 3 months of diagnosis for patients beginning active treatment.[5] In patients with frequent or severe infections, immunoglobulin replacement, with or without long-term antibiotics, may be considered. [Extracted from the article]