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The Journal of Hospital Infection Jul 2021Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA was detected using a polymerase chain reaction assay in air samples collected using an air-liquid impaction device at 1 m distance from three...
Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA was detected using a polymerase chain reaction assay in air samples collected using an air-liquid impaction device at 1 m distance from three out of 14 infants who had developed Pneumocystis primary infection. P. jirovecii genotype identification was successful in one out of three pairs of air samples. Matching of P. jirovecii genotypes between the nasopharyngeal and air samples suggested that P. jirovecii was effectively exhaled by the infected infant. These original results represent a proof of concept of the role of infants with primary pneumocystis infection as infectious sources of P. jirovecii in hospitals and in the community.
Topics: Exhalation; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Pneumocystis; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 33894307
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.04.015 -
Annual Review of Medicine 1994Pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonia is recognized as the leading cause of opportunistic pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts during the past decade. Although... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonia is recognized as the leading cause of opportunistic pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts during the past decade. Although much remains unknown about pathogenesis and host response in PC, recent years, studies of PC have provided us with an increasing base of knowledge about this organism and its relationship to the host. These studies have led to a better understanding of mechanisms of PC attachment and injury to host cells. New information about the interaction of PC with pulmonary surfactant provides insight about the pathophysiology of PC pneumonia. The interplay of the organism, host inflammatory cells, release of cytokines, generation of toxic metabolites, and involvement of both cellular and humoral immunity is complex, but understanding the pathogenesis of PC pneumonia is necessary in order to develop new therapies for this disorder.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Fungal; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Macrophages, Alveolar; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Surfactants
PubMed: 8198382
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.med.45.1.261 -
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift Dec 2014The Pneumocystis pneumonia is an increasing problem in transplanted patients: up to 25% suffer from Pneumocystis pneumonia, occurring during the first 6 months after...
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.
Topics: Female; Germany; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 25234937
DOI: 10.1007/s00508-014-0608-3 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Nov 2023Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a novel assay to detect pneumocystis jjrovecii (Pj) which has been defined to be more sensitive than qPCR in recent studies. We aimed to...
OBJECTIVE
Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a novel assay to detect pneumocystis jjrovecii (Pj) which has been defined to be more sensitive than qPCR in recent studies. We aimed to explore whether clinical features of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) were associated with ddPCR copy numbers of Pj.
METHODS
A total of 48 PCP patients were retrospectively included. Pj detection was implemented by ddPCR assay within 4 h. Bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) samples were collected from 48 patients with molecular diagnosis as PCP via metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) or quantitative PCR detection. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to screen out possible indicators for the severity of PCP. The patients were divided into two groups according to ddPCR copy numbers, and their clinical features were further analyzed.
RESULTS
Pj loading was a pro rata increase with serum (1,3)-beta-D glucan, D-dimmer, neutrophil percentage, procalcitonin and BALF polymorphonuclear leucocyte percentage, while negative correlation with albumin, PaO2/FiO2, BALF cell count, and BALF lymphocyte percentage. D-dimmer and ddPCR copy number of Pj were independent indicators for moderate/severe PCP patients with PaO2/FiO2 lower than 300. We made a ROC analysis of ddPCR copy number of Pj for PaO2/FiO2 index and grouped the patients according to the cut-off value (2.75). The high copy numbers group was characterized by higher level of inflammatory markers. Compared to low copy number group, there was lower level of the total cell count while higher level of polymorphonuclear leucocyte percentage in BALF in the high copy numbers group. Different from patients with high copy numbers, those with high copy numbers had a tendency to develop more severe complications and required advanced respiratory support.
CONCLUSION
The scenarios of patients infected with high ddPCR copy numbers of Pj showed more adverse clinical conditions. Pj loading could reflect the severity of PCP to some extent.
Topics: Humans; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Retrospective Studies; DNA Copy Number Variations; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pneumocystis; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Pneumocystis carinii
PubMed: 38012564
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08580-7 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jul 1994
Topics: Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Recurrence
PubMed: 8069160
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.309.6949.272a -
Pathology and Immunopathology Research 1989
Review
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan; Antigens, Surface; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Lectins; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 2671972
DOI: 10.1159/000157145 -
Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology Aug 1989Pneumocystis carinii is a special organism that causes a variety of host reactions depending on the resistance and immune response. The disease was originally observed... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii is a special organism that causes a variety of host reactions depending on the resistance and immune response. The disease was originally observed in premature and newborn infants, associated with interstitial plasma cell infiltrates, which lead to rapid suffocation of the infant. An understanding of all aspects of the disease and all its patterns is required in view of the worldwide epidemic of immune deficiency of various etiologies associated with the nearly ubiquitous infestation with Pneumocystis carinii.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 2678332
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Infectious... May 2016Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases in patients with impaired immunity. Effective antiviral therapies have reduced the burden of...
BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases in patients with impaired immunity. Effective antiviral therapies have reduced the burden of PCP among AIDS patients, but an increase in the prevalence of this disease among persons receiving immunosuppressive therapies has been reported.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed HIV and non-HIV PCP patients diagnosed in our department during a nine year period. Data were collected from the local database completed during the diagnosis procedure. For each patient, demographic, clinical, radiological, biological and therapeutic data were analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 21,274 bronchoalveolar samples were received from patients suspected of pneumocystosis during the study period, leading to a discharge diagnosis of PCP for 604 patients (143 HIV-positive and 461 HIV-negative). The ratio of non-HIV versus HIV patients presenting PCP increased from 1.7 to 5.6 during the study period. The mortality rate at day 14 was 16%, occurring mostly in non-HIV patients (20.6% compared to 1.4%, P<0.0001), while non-HIV patients were less symptomatic at diagnosis than AIDS patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This study presents one of the higher number of HIV and non-HIV patients presenting with PCP in a single center. Pneumocystosis is now a crucial health challenge for patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, with a high mortality rate. This study highlights the need for international guidelines for prophylaxis of PCP in non-HIV patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; France; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 27021532
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.03.018 -
Medical Mycology 1998Pneumocystis carinii is a major cause of severe pneumonia in immunosuppressed individuals, especially in those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii is a major cause of severe pneumonia in immunosuppressed individuals, especially in those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during their period of progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and constitutes a worldwide problem to public health. Recently, significant advances in the development of experimental animal models of P. carinii infection, as well as in our knowledge of the genetic diversity and taxonomy of P. carinii, have been made. These advances may contribute to our understanding of the transmission of P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) and to the development of new prevention and control strategies. This paper addresses questions relating to the epidemiology of PCP including the detection of the parasite in the environment and in patients, the mechanism of genetic variation of the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of P. carinii, and host-related genetic variation among isolates of this organism, emphasizing phenotypic expression and its impact on epidemiology and taxonomy.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Adult; Air Microbiology; Animals; Carrier State; Genes, Fungal; Humans; Mice; Mice, SCID; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 9988507
DOI: No ID Found -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jan 2001
Topics: Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 11218793
DOI: No ID Found