Outbreak of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in renal transplant recipients on prophylaxis: Our observation and experience

• Published in: Indian journal of medical microbiology Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 333 - 336
• Main Authors: Chandola, P, Lall, M, Sen, S, Bharadwaj, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Elsevier B.V 01.07.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Chemoprevention - methods; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumocystis; Pneumocystis carinii - isolation & purification; Pneumocystis jirovecii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - mortality; prophylaxis; renal transplant recipients; prophylaxis; renal transplant recipients; Pneumocystis jirovecii
• ISSN: 0255-0857; 1998-3646
• DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.136594

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a life-threatening opportunistic pathogen affecting immunocompromised hosts, especially renal transplant recipients. This study reports an outbreak of seven such cases, both inpatients and outpatients, occurring in our hospital over a period of 4 months (January–April 2013). All patients were male with a median age of 38 years (range, 28–58 years); the median period between transplantation and diagnosis was 39.5 months (range, 11–123 months). One patient succumbed to the infection. Two were breakthrough cases, developing the infection while on prophylaxis, highlighting the need to view prophylaxis in light of the immunosuppression and clinical picture of such patients.