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Outbreak-Causing Fungi: Pneumocystis jirovecii

Sarah Dellière1,2, Maud Gits-Muselli1,2, Stéphane Bretagne1,2,3

  • 1Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis-Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université de Paris, Paris, France.

Mycopathologia
|November 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) can spread between people, posing risks especially to non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Understanding P. jirovecii transmission and outbreaks is crucial for infection control and updating preventive care guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) significantly impacts immunocompromised individuals, with higher mortality in non-HIV patients.
  • P. jirovecii is a transmissible fungal pathogen uniquely dependent on its host for survival.
  • Outbreaks of PCP highlight challenges in preventive care, particularly for the non-HIV population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the transmission routes of P. jirovecii.
  • To identify documented outbreaks of PCP.
  • To discuss molecular diagnostic tools for outbreak investigation and implications for infection control.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of P. jirovecii transmission.
  • Compilation of reported PCP outbreaks.
  • Analysis of molecular typing techniques for P. jirovecii.

Main Results:

  • P. jirovecii exhibits human-to-human transmissibility, leading to outbreaks.
  • Non-HIV immunocompromised patients face distinct challenges in PCP prevention compared to HIV patients.
  • Molecular tools aid in tracking transmission pathways during outbreaks.

Conclusions:

  • Effective infection control strategies are essential to manage PCP outbreaks in healthcare settings.
  • Current chemoprophylaxis guidelines require re-evaluation for non-HIV immunocompromised populations.
  • Further research into P. jirovecii transmission dynamics is needed to refine public health interventions.
Keywords:
Infection controlInvasive fungal diseaseMolecular typingOutbreaksPneumocystisRenal transplant recipient

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