If you're on a biologic for rheumatoid arthritis (Humira, Enbrel, Actemra, or one of the others), you may have seen the infection warning on the packaging. Here’s a breakdown of what infection risk looks like day to day in your home.
Why these drugs increase infection risk — by design
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors like Humira (adalimumab), Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade (infliximab), and others work by neutralizing a signaling protein central to the inflammatory response that drives RA joint damage. Suppressing TNF reduces that inflammation. But TNF is also part of how your immune system detects and responds to certain infections — which is why the Arthritis Foundation notes that infection risk is measurably higher in the first six months after starting a TNF blocker, particularly for older patients or those with a history of infections.
Tocilizumab (Actemra) works on a different pathway — blocking the IL-6 receptor — but the pattern is similar. Its prescribing information carries a black box warning for serious infections, and in clinical trials, upper respiratory tract infections and nasopharyngitis were among the most common adverse events reported, with an overall infection rate of 163.7 per 100 patient-years in the all-exposure population.
A broader analysis found that baseline infection risk in RA patients not yet on biologics is already roughly double that of the general population, and a meta-analysis of TNF inhibitor trials found the risk of serious infection roughly doubles again once biologic treatment starts.
Respiratory infections specifically
Across multiple biologic classes, respiratory infections show up consistently as the most common category of infection. For tocilizumab, upper respiratory tract infection is one of the most frequently reported adverse events in trials. A systematic review of TNF inhibitors found that certolizumab pegol and infliximab carried higher infection risk than etanercept or golimumab, with respiratory infections among the most common types reported across the class.
This matters because respiratory viruses — influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 — spread primarily through the air.
Better protect your home, the environment you control
You can't control the air in a waiting room, an office, or a grocery store. What you can influence is the air in the rooms where you spend the most time — your bedroom, your living room, the spaces where you're recovering, working, or simply living your life while your immune system is operating with less margin than it used to.
Most households addressing indoor air quality reach for a HEPA air purifier, so it’s important to understand where HEPA filtration shines as well as their limitations. HEPA filtration capture airborne particles like dust and allergens, but viruses and bacteria can be carried on particles too small for HEPA filters to effectively trap. Beacon by comparison inactivates viruses and bacteria at the cellular level.
Far-UVC 222nm light works differently
Germicidal UV light isn't new; hospitals and labs have used it for decades to disinfect air and surfaces. The limitation has always been that conventional germicidal UV (254nm) is harmful to skin and eyes, so it can only run in unoccupied spaces.
Far-UVC at 222nm works by the same underlying mechanism — damaging the DNA and RNA of viruses and bacteria so they can no longer replicate — but at a wavelength that is safe for human exposure.
Beacon brings this same technology into the home. It can run continuously and safely in a room while people and pets are present. It's been tested to inactivate up to 99.99% of airborne pathogens including influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 — running quietly in the background, with no chemicals, residue, or effort.
HSA and FSA eligibility
If you're managing RA with a biologic, you're likely already dealing with significant healthcare costs. Beacon is HSA and FSA eligible, which means it can be purchased with pre-tax dollars, reducing its effective cost as part of the broader picture of managing this condition.
Beacon uses Far-UVC 222nm light technology, clinically proven to inactivate up to 99.99% of airborne pathogens including RSV, influenza A/B, and SARS-CoV-2. It mounts on the wall, runs continuously, and requires no maintenance from you. Beacon is HSA/FSA eligible.
