Blood

IV iron appears safe for treating anemia during acute infection, real‑world data suggest

February 25, 2026

A large retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network (2000 to 2025) found that adults with iron‑deficiency anemia (IDA) and acute infections—including MRSA bacteremia, pneumonia, UTI, colitis, and cellulitis—had significantly higher 14‑ and 90‑day survival when treated with IV iron compared with matched patients who didn’t receive it (p<0.001 for each infection type). Hemoglobin recovery was also consistently greater across all infection types (e.g., +1.3 vs. +1.0 g/dL in MRSA bacteremia; +1.5 vs. +0.7 g/dL in colitis; all p<0.001), with no evidence of infection exacerbation. These findings challenge decades of clinical hesitation and suggest IV iron may safely improve outcomes during acute infection.

Clinical takeaway: Don’t delay IV iron solely due to active infection. When IDA is present, early treatment may improve survival and accelerate hematologic recovery.

Source:

Sohail H, et al. (2026, January 27). Blood. A Retrospective, Real-World Study of IV Iron Use to Treat Iron deficiency Anemia During Acute Infection. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41592284/