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Molecular evidence of Pneumocystis transmission in pediatric transplant unit

Britta Höcker1, Constanze Wendt, Aimable Nahimana

  • 1University Children's Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 150, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Britta_Hoecker@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

An outbreak of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in pediatric kidney transplant patients suggests human-to-human spread. Molecular typing confirmed shared strains among three patients, indicating infection transmission within the unit.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a serious opportunistic infection.
  • Renal transplant recipients are at high risk for infections, including PCP.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for infection control in immunocompromised populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of PCP in a pediatric renal transplant unit.
  • To determine the transmission route of Pneumocystis jirovecii during the outbreak.
  • To identify the source and spread of infection within the unit.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case review of patients with PCP in the pediatric renal transplant unit.
  • Molecular typing using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) to analyze Pneumocystis jirovecii strains.
  • Epidemiological investigation to identify potential transmission links.

Main Results:

  • An outbreak of PCP occurred in the pediatric renal transplant unit.
  • Molecular typing identified two common strains of Pneumocystis in three affected patients.
  • An infant with mitochondriopathy was identified as the likely index case.

Conclusions:

  • The findings strongly suggest patient-to-patient transmission of Pneumocystis jirovecii within the unit.
  • Interhuman spread is a significant concern in pediatric renal transplant settings.
  • Implementing enhanced infection control measures is vital to prevent future outbreaks.

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