Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in immunocompromised patients: Delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes in non-HIV-infected individuals

BackgroundPneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised patients. Improved knowledge about the varied characteristics and management in different populations may guide treatment.MethodsWe evaluated the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with PJP diagnosed by nested polymerase chain reaction at a medical center in southern Taiwan from 2008 to 2011. The risk factors of mortality among non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients were analyzed.ResultsDuring the study period, there were 43 cases of PJP, and the common underlying diseases were HIV infection (23 patients, median CD4 count: 19/μl) and malignancy. The HIV-infected patients had a younger age (36.9 ± 13.7 vs. 50.2 ± 16.2 years, p = 0.006), a lower body mass index (19.9 ± 2.3 vs. 22.0 ± 3.7 kg/m2, p = 0.035), a longer duration of symptoms before admission (24 ± 29 vs. 7 ± 15 days, p = 0.035), and a lower pneumonia severity index (56 ± 25 vs. 99 ± 35, p < 0.001) than non-HIV-infected patients. A delay between admission and starting antimicrobial therapy for PJP (10 ± 10 days vs. 1 ± 3 days, p = 0.004) and a high crude mortality (12/20, 60% vs. 2/23, 9%, p = 0.001) were noted in non-HIV-infected patients. In the univariate analysis, the risk factors for mortality were a low lymphocyte count (p < 0.05) and shock during hospitalization (p = 0.004).ConclusionA delay in the initiation of antimicrobial therapy for PJP and severe pneumonia were more common in the non-HIV-infected patients and were most likely related to the poor prognosis. The utilization of sensitive diagnostic tools to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment may improve the clinical outcomes of non-HIV-infected patients with PJP.