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Xue T, Kong X, Ma L. Trends in the Epidemiology of Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Patients without HIV Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:812. [PMID: 37623583 PMCID: PMC10455156 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing morbidity and mortality of life-threatening Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised people poses a global concern, prompting the World Health Organization to list it as one of the 19 priority invasive fungal diseases, calling for increased research and public health action. In response to this initiative, we provide this review on the epidemiology of PCP in non-HIV patients with various immunodeficient conditions, including the use of immunosuppressive agents, cancer therapies, solid organ and stem cell transplantation, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, inherited or primary immunodeficiencies, and COVID-19. Special attention is given to the molecular epidemiology of PCP outbreaks in solid organ transplant recipients; the risk of PCP associated with the increasing use of immunodepleting monoclonal antibodies and a wide range of genetic defects causing primary immunodeficiency; the trend of concurrent infection of PCP in COVID-19; the prevalence of colonization; and the rising evidence supporting de novo infection rather than reactivation of latent infection in the pathogenesis of PCP. Additionally, we provide a concise discussion of the varying effects of different immunodeficient conditions on distinct components of the immune system. The objective of this review is to increase awareness and knowledge of PCP in non-HIV patients, thereby improving the early identification and treatment of patients susceptible to PCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xue
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Key Laboratory of Prophylaxis and Treatment and Basic Research of Respiratory Diseases of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Respiratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Xiaomei Kong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Key Laboratory of Prophylaxis and Treatment and Basic Research of Respiratory Diseases of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Respiratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Meyer AMJ, Sidler D, Hirzel C, Furrer H, Ebner L, Peters AA, Christe A, Huynh-Do U, Walti LN, Arampatzis S. Distinct Clinical and Laboratory Patterns of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Renal Transplant Recipients. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7121072. [PMID: 34947054 PMCID: PMC8707918 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Late post-transplant Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) has been reported in many renal transplant recipients (RTRs) centers using universal prophylaxis. Specific features of PcP compared to other respiratory infections in the same population are not well reported. We analyzed clinical, laboratory, administrative and radiological data of all confirmed PcP cases between January 2009 and December 2014. To identify factors specifically associated with PcP, we compared clinical and laboratory data of RTRs with non-PcP. Over the study period, 36 cases of PcP were identified. Respiratory distress was more frequent in PcP compared to non-PcP (tachypnea: 59%, 20/34 vs. 25%, 13/53, p = 0.0014; dyspnea: 70%, 23/33 vs. 44%, 24/55, p = 0.0181). In contrast, fever was less frequent in PcP compared to non-PcP pneumonia (35%, 11/31 vs. 76%, 42/55, p = 0.0002). In both cohorts, total lymphocyte count and serum sodium decreased, whereas lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased at diagnosis. Serum calcium increased in PcP and decreased in non-PcP. In most PcP cases (58%, 21/36), no formal indication for restart of PcP prophylaxis could be identified. Potential transmission encounters, suggestive of interhuman transmission, were found in 14/36, 39% of patients. Interhuman transmission seems to contribute importantly to PcP among RTRs. Hypercalcemia, but not elevated LDH, was associated with PcP when compared to non-PcP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas M. J. Meyer
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.M.J.M.); (D.S.); (U.H.-D.); (S.A.)
| | - Daniel Sidler
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.M.J.M.); (D.S.); (U.H.-D.); (S.A.)
| | - Cédric Hirzel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (C.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Hansjakob Furrer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (C.H.); (H.F.)
| | - Lukas Ebner
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (L.E.); (A.A.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Alan A. Peters
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (L.E.); (A.A.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Andreas Christe
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (L.E.); (A.A.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Uyen Huynh-Do
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.M.J.M.); (D.S.); (U.H.-D.); (S.A.)
| | - Laura N. Walti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (C.H.); (H.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Spyridon Arampatzis
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.M.J.M.); (D.S.); (U.H.-D.); (S.A.)
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Vera C, Rueda ZV. Transmission and Colonization of Pneumocystis jirovecii. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110979. [PMID: 34829266 PMCID: PMC8622989 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis spp. was discovered in 1909 and was classified as a fungus in 1988. The species that infects humans is called P. jirovecii and important characteristics of its genome have recently been discovered. Important advances have been made to understand P. jirovecii, including aspects of its biology, evolution, lifecycle, and pathogenesis; it is now considered that the main route of transmission is airborne and that the infectious form is the asci (cyst), but it is unclear whether there is transmission by direct contact or droplet spread. On the other hand, P. jirovecii has been detected in respiratory secretions of hosts without causing disease, which has been termed asymptomatic carrier status or colonization (frequency in immunocompetent patients: 0–65%, pregnancy: 15.5%, children: 0–100%, HIV-positive patients: 20–69%, cystic fibrosis: 1–22%, and COPD: 16–55%). This article briefly describes the history of its discovery and the nomenclature of Pneumocystis spp., recently uncovered characteristics of its genome, and what research has been done on the transmission and colonization of P. jirovecii. Based on the literature, the authors of this review propose a hypothetical natural history of P. jirovecii infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Vera
- Grupo de Investigación en Salud Pública, Research Department, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
- Correspondence:
| | - Zulma Vanessa Rueda
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg RT3, Colombia;
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Hosseini-Moghaddam SM, Dufresne PJ, Hunter Gutierrez E, Dufresne SF, House AA, Humar A, Kumar D, Jevnikar AM. Long-lasting cluster of nosocomial pneumonia with a single Pneumocystis jirovecii genotype involving different organ allograft recipients. Clin Transplant 2020; 34:e14108. [PMID: 33048378 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) outbreaks may occur in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. Transmissibility of Pneumocystis jirovecii among SOT and non-SOT patients has not been investigated. Ten SOT (ie, 4 heart, 4 kidney, 2 liver allograft recipients) and 11 non-SOT (ie, 7 HIV-infected, 3 hematologic malignancies, and 1 stem cell transplant) patients with PCP were admitted to London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) from October 2014 to August 2016. We investigated the course of illness and outcome of PCP in SOT and non-SOT patients. Post-transplant PCP was frequently an acute-onset disease (90% vs. 18.2%, p = .01) requiring ICU admission (70% vs. 20%, p = .03) and hemodialysis (60% vs. 0, p = .003). Mortality was more frequent in SOT patients (40% vs. 18.1%, p = .36). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) demonstrated circulation of a single genotype of P. jirovecii among SOT patients. However, 8 different genotypes were detected from non-SOT patients. Reinstitution of prophylaxis successfully controlled post-transplant cluster until end of observation period in October 2019. No transmission was detected from non-SOT patients to SOT recipients. Detection of a single P. jirovecii genotype from all SOT recipients highlights the likelihood of nosocomial transmission. No source control method is recommended by current guidelines. Improvement of preventive strategies is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed M Hosseini-Moghaddam
- Transplant Infectious Diseases Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Multiorgan Transplant Program, London Health Sciences Center, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Philippe J Dufresne
- Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Elaine Hunter Gutierrez
- Multiorgan Transplant Program, London Health Sciences Center, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Simon F Dufresne
- Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Andrew A House
- Multiorgan Transplant Program, London Health Sciences Center, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Atul Humar
- Transplant Infectious Diseases Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Deepali Kumar
- Transplant Infectious Diseases Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony M Jevnikar
- Multiorgan Transplant Program, London Health Sciences Center, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Chen J, He T, Li X, Wang X, Peng L, Ma L. Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Diagnosis of a Case of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in a Kidney Transplant Recipient and Literature Review. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:2829-2836. [PMID: 32884306 PMCID: PMC7431457 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s257587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the increasing incidences of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in renal transplant recipients, diagnosis of PCP remains challenging due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and the inadequate performance of conventional diagnostic methods. There is a need for novel diagnostic methods. Case Presentation A 27-year-old woman developed acute pneumonia 4 months after renal transplantation. Blood tests revealed a low CD4 count, a normal 1,3-beta-D-glucan level and other changes typical of inflammatory responses. Chest imaging showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates. Microscopic examination of stained sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) smear specimens did not find Pneumocystis organisms. There was also no evidence for other pathogens known to cause pneumonia in various antibody and culture tests. Direct metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) analysis of a BALF specimen identified a large number of P. jirovecii reads, allowing to confirm the diagnosis of PCP. Following treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for two weeks, the patient was cured and discharged. Conclusion This case report supports the value of mNGS in diagnosing PCP, highlights the inadequate sensitivity of conventional diagnostic methods for PCP, and calls for the need to add PCP prophylaxis to the current Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline of Invasive Fungal Infections in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting He
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujun Li
- Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Peng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Dellière S, Gits-Muselli M, Bretagne S, Alanio A. Outbreak-Causing Fungi: Pneumocystis jirovecii. Mycopathologia 2019; 185:783-800. [PMID: 31782069 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-019-00408-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is an important cause of morbidity in immunocompromised patients, with a higher mortality in non-HIV than in HIV patients. P. jirovecii is one of the rare transmissible pathogenic fungi and the only one that depends fully on the host to survive and proliferate. Transmissibility among humans is one of the main specificities of P. jirovecii. Hence, the description of multiple outbreaks raises questions regarding preventive care management of the disease, especially in the non-HIV population. Indeed, chemoprophylaxis is well codified in HIV patients but there is a trend for modifications of the recommendations in the non-HIV population. In this review, we aim to discuss the mode of transmission of P. jirovecii, identify published outbreaks of PCP and describe molecular tools available to study these outbreaks. Finally, we discuss public health and infection control implications of PCP outbreaks in hospital setting for in- and outpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dellière
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis-Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Molecular Mycology Unit, CNRS UMR2000, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Maud Gits-Muselli
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis-Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Molecular Mycology Unit, CNRS UMR2000, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Stéphane Bretagne
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis-Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Molecular Mycology Unit, CNRS UMR2000, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
- National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals (NRCMA), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Alanio
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis-Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- Molecular Mycology Unit, CNRS UMR2000, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France.
- National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals (NRCMA), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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Grouped Cases of Pulmonary Pneumocystosis After Solid Organ Transplantation: Advantages of Coordination by an Infectious Diseases Unit for Overall Management and Epidemiological Monitoring. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016; 38:179-185. [PMID: 27890037 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2016.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the origin of grouped cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia in solid-organ transplant recipients at our institution. DESIGN A case series with clinical examinations, genotyping, and an epidemiological survey. SETTING A university hospital in France. PATIENTS We report 12 solid-organ transplant recipients with successive cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia that occurred over 3 years; 10 of these cases occurred in a single year. METHODS We used molecular typing of P. jirovecii strains by multilocus sequence typing and clinical epidemiological survey to determine potential dates and places of transmission. RESULTS Between May 2014 and March 2015, 10 solid-organ transplant recipients (5 kidney transplants, 4 heart transplants, and 1 lung transplant) presented with Pneumocystis pneumonia. Molecular genotyping revealed the same P. jirovecii strain in at least 6 patients. This Pneumocystis strain was not identified in control patients (ie, nontransplant patients presenting with pulmonary pneumocystosis) during this period. The epidemiological survey guided by sequencing results provided information on the probable or possible dates and places of contamination for 5 of these patients. The mobile infectious diseases unit played a coordination role in the clinical management (adaptation of the local guidelines) and epidemiological survey. CONCLUSION Our cardiac and kidney transplant units experienced grouped cases of pulmonary pneumocystosis. Genotyping and epidemiological surveying results suggested interhuman contamination, which was quickly eliminated thanks to multidisciplinary coordination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:179-185.
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Yiannakis E, Boswell T. Systematic review of outbreaks of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: evidence that P. jirovecii is a transmissible organism and the implications for healthcare infection control. J Hosp Infect 2016; 93:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Kumar A, Agarwal C, Hooda AK, Ojha A, Dhillon M, Hari Kumar KVS. Profile of infections in renal transplant recipients from India. J Family Med Prim Care 2016; 5:611-614. [PMID: 28217592 PMCID: PMC5290769 DOI: 10.4103/2249-4863.197320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Infectious disorders are a major cause of concern in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. We studied the profile and outcomes of infectious disorders in a cohort of RTR. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, observational study, we evaluated all RTR who presented with the features of infection. We also included asymptomatic patients with microbiological evidence of infection. We excluded patients with acute rejection, drug toxicity, and malignancy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Results: The study population (n = 45, 35 male and 10 female) had a mean age of 35.5 ± 10.4 years and follow-up after transplant was 2.1 ± 1.7 years. Urinary tract infection (UTI, n = 15) is the most common infection followed by tuberculosis (TB, n = 8), cytomegalovirus (n = 6), candidiasis (n = 7), and hepatitis (n = 11). Miscellaneous infections such as cryptosporidiosis and pneumocystis were seen in 10 patients. Simultaneous infections with two organisms were seen in 7 patients. Four patients succumbed to multiorgan dysfunction following sepsis, another 4 patients developed chronic graft dysfunction, while the remaining 35 RTR had a good graft function. Conclusion: Infectious complications are very common in the posttransplant period including UTI and TB. Further large scale studies are required to identify the potential risk factors leading to infections in RTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar
- Department of Nephrology, Command Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Chaturbhuj Agarwal
- Department of Nephrology, Command Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashok K Hooda
- Department of Nephrology, Command Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashutosh Ojha
- Department of Medicine, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mukesh Dhillon
- Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Ambala, India
| | - K V S Hari Kumar
- Department of Endocrinology, Army Hospital (R and R), Delhi, India
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Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and Pneumocystis jirovecii carriage in renal transplantation patients: a single-centre experience. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2014; 126:762-6. [PMID: 25234937 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-014-0608-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Pneumocystis pneumonia is an increasing problem in transplanted patients: up to 25% suffer from Pneumocystis pneumonia, occurring during the first 6 months after transplantation. METHODS From 2001 to 2009, we investigated 21 patients with pneumonia after renal transplantation for the presence of Pneumocystis jirovecii. The laboratory diagnosis was established by Grocott and Giemsa staining methods and Pneumocystis-specific mitochondrial transcribed large subunit nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR was also used for the differentiation of Pneumocystis pneumonia from Pneumocystis carriage. RESULTS Of 21 patients, 7 had a Pneumocystis pneumonia, 6 were Pneumocystis carriers and 8 patients were negative. Four out of seven Pneumocystis pneumonia patients and two out of six patients with Pneumocystis carriage had a delayed graft function. An acute cytomegalovirus infection after transplantation was not detectable in the patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia, but in three patients with Pneumocystis carriage. CONCLUSIONS Pneumocystis pneumonia was present in 33.3% of transplanted patients with suspected pneumonia. An association between acute rejection or co-infections and Pneumocystis pneumonia or carriage in patients after renal transplantation cannot be excluded. In three out of seven Pneumocystis pneumonia patients, an overlapping of hospitalisation times and an onset of Pneumocystis pneumonia 6 months after transplantation was found. Thus, person-to-person transmission seems probable in these cases.
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