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Is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after stem cell transplantations a contagious disease?

Igor B Resnick1, Diana Averbuch, Memet Aker

  • 1Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cancer Immunotherapy, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

Clinical Transplantation
|May 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) may be contagious in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. This risk is heightened in infants and young children, necessitating careful avoidance strategies to prevent infection transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Transplantation Immunology

Background:

  • Neonatal acute leukemia presents a critical challenge requiring aggressive treatment like hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
  • HSCT recipients are profoundly immunocompromised, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections.
  • Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a significant threat in immunocompromised populations, particularly after transplantation.

Observation:

  • Identical twins undergoing HSCT for neonatal acute leukemia were hospitalized together.
  • The first twin developed respiratory symptoms, followed by the second twin developing Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) two weeks later.
  • Both twins were housed in the same room throughout their hospitalization.

Findings:

  • The sequential development of PCP in twins treated in close proximity suggests potential contagion.
  • This case highlights the possibility of person-to-person transmission of Pneumocystis jiroveci in a highly vulnerable HSCT recipient population.
  • The timing of PCP onset in both twins indicates a possible incubation period and transmission event.

Implications:

  • PCP may be transmissible between hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, especially infants and young children.
  • Enhanced infection control measures and isolation protocols may be necessary for HSCT units, particularly for pediatric patients.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the transmission dynamics of Pneumocystis jiroveci in HSCT recipients to refine preventative strategies.

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