Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Cancer Patients

PCP is associated with steroid therapy and diffuse pulmonary involvement; compared with bacterial pneumonia, it has later onset, longer symptom duration, and lower oxygen saturation.

Pneumocystis jiroveci (previously P. carinii) is an ascomycetous fungus that causes opportunistic infections (most often pneumonia) in patients with impaired immunity. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is well known as an AIDS-defining infection but also has been reported — albeit sometimes with a different clinical presentation — in cancer patients.

Investigators in Paris recently described the clinical characteristics of PCP in such patients.

Of 56 patients, 44 had hematologic malignancies, and 18 had received bone-marrow transplants (9 allogeneic, 9 autologous); none were HIV-infected. PCP developed 4 to 49 months (median, 2 years) after cancer diagnosis. Leading symptoms were fever (86%), dyspnea (79%), and cough (57%), but only 39% of patient…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Cancer Patients

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Reviewing Author