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. 2017 Jun 5;17(1):392.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2492-8.

Outcomes and prognostic factors of non-HIV patients with pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and pulmonary CMV co-infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Qing Yu  1 , Peng Jia  1 , Li Su  1 , Hong Zhao  2 , Chengli Que  3
Affiliations

Outcomes and prognostic factors of non-HIV patients with pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and pulmonary CMV co-infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Qing Yu et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and pulmonary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are common opportunistic infections among immunocompromised patients. However, few studies have evaluated their co-infection, especially among non-HIV patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors among non-HIV patients with PJP according to their CMV infection status.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated non-HIV patients who were diagnosed with PJP between January 2009 and January2016.The patients were classified and compared according to their pulmonary CMV infection status (positive infection: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF] CMV DNA loads of >500copies/mL).

Results: Among 70 non-HIV patients with PJP, we identified 38 patients (54.3%) with pulmonary CMV infection. There was no significant difference in the mortality rates for the two groups (p = 0.15). Pulmonary CMV infection was significantly more common among patients who were receiving glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, compared to corticosteroids only (p = 0.02). Pulmonary CMV infection was also significantly associated with severe dyspnea, a lower PaO2/FiO2, and the presence of centrilobular nodules (p = 0.008). Higher CMV DNA loads in the BALF were positively associated with mortality (p = 0.012).

Conclusions: Combined therapy using corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants may be a risk factor for pulmonary CMV co-infection among patients with PJP. In addition, CMV pneumonia should be considered when centrilobular nodules and/or severe hypoxemia are observed in non-HIV patients with PJP. Furthermore, antiviral treatment should be promptly initiated for patients with a high CMV DNA load in BALF, based on their poor prognosis.

Keywords: CMVDNA load; Cytomegalovirus; Pneumocystis jiroveciipneumonia; Prognosis.

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