Cluster outbreak of Pneumocystis pneumonia among kidney transplant patients within a single center

Transplant Proc. 2009 Jan-Feb;41(1):170-2. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.10.027.

Abstract

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a life-threatening opportunistic infection occurring in immunocompromised hosts, developed in 10 patients in the past 35 years at our hospital. Among the 7 outpatients and 3 inpatients, 9 cases clustered within 7 months. The mean time was 32.1 +/- 27.5 months between transplantation and PCP diagnosis. The mortality rate was 33.3%. The patients developing PCP were older at transplantation (46.9 +/- 11.8 vs 34.0 +/- 11.1 years; P = .003) and had a longer pretransplantation dialysis period (146.3 +/- 120.0 vs 51.3 +/- 66.6 months; P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that age at transplantation and the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were risk factors for development of PCP. Despite prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) during the first 3 to 6 months after transplantation, the time period that showed the highest incidence rate of PCP, the disease may occur at later intervals.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cadaver
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Pneumocystis carinii / isolation & purification
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / mortality
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Donors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents