Increased prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii colonisation in acute pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis.

J Infect

Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK; University of Manchester, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, UK.

Published: July 2016

AI Article Synopsis

  • This study investigated how common the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii is in adults with cystic fibrosis during periods of clinical stability vs. acute lung flare-ups.
  • Researchers analyzed sputum samples for the presence of P. jirovecii DNA from patients at the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, distinguishing between stable conditions and exacerbations using specific scoring methods.
  • Results showed P. jirovecii was more frequently found during acute exacerbations (about 9.2%) compared to stable conditions (about 2%), and it was rarely detected in patients who had taken a specific antibiotic (co-trimoxazole) recently.

Article Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii in the sputum of adults with cystic fibrosis during clinical stability and acute pulmonary exacerbation.

Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal observational study of patients attending the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre. Sputum samples were analysed for P. jirovecii DNA using PCR at enrolment and up to 5 follow-up visits. Patients were classified as stable or exacerbating using a modified Fuch's pulmonary exacerbation score.

Results: 226 samples were tested from 111 patients. P. jirovecii was more likely to be detected in samples at acute pulmonary exacerbation (7/76 (9.2%)) compared with stable visits (3/150 (2%)), p = 0.03. P. jirovecii was detected less frequently if patients had received co-trimoxazole within 3 months of sample collection (0% versus 29.7%, p = 0.03).

Conclusions: Prevalence of P. jirovecii in stable patients is low, but P. jirovecii is detected in approximately 1 in 10 patients experiencing an acute pulmonary exacerbation.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2016.05.001DOI Listing

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