Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with autoimmune disease on high-dose glucocorticoid.

Objective: Indications for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis in patients with autoimmune disease remain unclear. We aimed to determine (1) the incidence of PCP in patients with autoimmune disease in general, in a clinical setting where prophylaxis is not routine, and (2) whether high-dose glucocorticoid (≥30 mg oral prednisolone or equivalent per day) is a risk factor for PCP infection.

Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients with autoimmune diseases hospitalized to a tertiary center over a 5-year study period was carried out.