Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in Hong Kong: a 10 year retrospective study

Abstract

A retrospective review was performed of patients diagnosed with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) from 1994 to 2003 at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. Eighteen patients were identified. Six (33·3 %) were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The remaining 12 non-HIV-infected patients had underlying diseases: three post-renal transplant recipients, three with haematological malignancies, two with auto-immune diseases, two with renal diseases, one with hepatocellular carcinoma and one with congenital cytomegalovirus disease. Cytomegalovirus co-infection was observed in four patients. All patients received cotrimoxazole therapy, with intolerance observed in four of them, including one with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, two with repeated vomiting and one with renal impairment. Overall crude mortality was 33·3 %. The results suggested that, apart from being a common infection for patients with HIV infection, PCP can occur during the course of many immunosuppressive diseases and therapies. The mortality of PCP was high despite appropriate treatment. Chemoprophylaxis should be considered in populations at risk.

Mortality predictors of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients at presentation: Experience in a tertiary care hospital of northern Taiwan

“…In previous studies, HIV was newly diagnosed on PJP patients between 23 and 69%. 3,5,6,10,11 The higher rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection in our study may result from many signs of persistent denial and discrimination in Taiwan. 22 However, lack of recognition may lead to delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, and higher mortality.…”

Risk and predictors of infection leading to hospitalisation in a large primary-care-derived cohort of patients with inflammatory polyarthritis

“…Firstly, disturbance of the immune system could reduce the ability to resist infection. [14][15][16][17] In addition, rheumatoid arthritis is often treated with powerful immunosuppressive agents that, in themselves, result in a reduction of the immune system's effectiveness. 15 18-20 Finally, rheumatoid arthritis is associated with smoking, 21 22 which is a known risk factor for infection.…”

Environmental Aspects of Zoonotic Diseases

“…The remaining question is: How does this "collaboration" affect animals' and human health. Pneumocystis pneumonia is mainly found in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients, transplant recipients, cancer patients and those exposed to ionized radiation (Hui and Kwok, 2006;Hennequin et al, 1995;Lavdovskaia et al, 1996). A significant difference was found between the two irrigation methods in relation to the vertical distribution of larvae: spraying affected grass migration while flooding affected soil migration.…”