Predisposing factors, clinical characteristics and outcome of Pneumonocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-negative patients

Pneumocystis jirovecii (former carinii) pneumonia, is a life-threatening opportunistic infection occurring in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to investigate the predisposing factors, clinical features and outcome of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-negative patients. The medical records of 62 adult patients with PCP, hospitalized at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece during a 10-year period (2004–2013) were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were immunosuppressed prior to the development of PCP. Thirty one patients (50%) suffered malignant hematological disease, 16 (26%) solid tumor and 15 (24%) had chronic inflammatory disease. Only 17 (27%) had received long-term systemic corticosteroids. All had symptoms of pneumonia upon admission, while 12 (19%) were suffering respiratory failure. Twenty one (34%) had received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis before the PCP onset. Eight patients (13%) were admitted to the ICU. Mortality attributable to PCP reached 29%. Mortality attributable to PCP was higher in patients with solid tumors. TMP-SMX prophylaxis failed in a significant portion of the present cohort. Hence, PCP should be included in the differential diagnosis in immunocompromised patients with symptoms from the respiratory tract even if TMP-SMX has been given as prophylaxis.