Pneumocystis jirovecii
From IDWiki
- Opportunistic fungal infection of the lower respiratory infection
Microbiology
- Yeast-like fungus
- Previously thought to be Pneumocystis carinii, a close relative that causes disease in rats
- P. carinii and P. wakefieldiae infect rats, P. murina infects mice and P. jiroveci infects humans
- Also previously thought to be a protozoan, but reclassified as fungus based on phylogenetic analysis, most closely related to Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Epidemiology
- HIV
- Immune-suppression, e.g. from steroids
Presentation
- Shortness of breath on exertion
Investigations
- CXR
- Typical: bilateral diffuse patchy disease
- Atypical:
- Normal (15%)
- Localized
- Pneumothorax
- Upper lobe, if on pentamidine
- LDH increased
- CBC often normal
Diagnosis
- Induced sputum or brochoalveolar lavage (normal sputum not sensitive enough)
- 6min walk test: will desaturate, even if well-oxygenated at rest
Treatment
- Septra 5-6mg/kg po BID for 3 weeks
- If pO2 <70mmHg or A-a gradient ≥35: prednisone
- Alternative: clindamycin-primaquine or IV pentamidine
- Duration is 21 days (3 weeks)
Prophylaxis
- Usually instituted if the risk of PJP is greater than 3.5% per year
References
- ^ Po-Yi Chen, Chong-Jen Yu, Jung-Yien Chien, Po-Ren Hsueh. Anidulafungin as an alternative treatment for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients who could not tolerate Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.10.001.
- ^ L. Cooley, C. Dendle, J. Wolf, B. W. Teh, S. C. Chen, C. Boutlis, K. A. Thursky. Consensus guidelines for diagnosis, prophylaxis and management ofPneumocystis jiroveciipneumonia in patients with haematological and solid malignancies, 2014. Internal Medicine Journal. 2014;44(12b):1350-1363. doi:10.1111/imj.12599.
