Rubén Morilla

Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Who Are Colonized with Pneumocystis jiroveci

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high levels of airway and systemic inflammatory markers are associated with a faster decrease in lung function. Our study shows that patients colonized by Pneumocystis jiroveci have higher proinflammatory cytokine levels than do noncolonized patients. This suggests that Pneumocystis may play a role in disease progression.

Pneumocystis jirovecii transmission from immunocompetent carriers to infant.

We report a case of Pneumocystis jirovecii transmission from colonized grandparents to their infant granddaughter. Genotyping of P. jirovecii showed the same genotypes in samples from the infant and her grandparents. These findings support P. jirovecii transmission from immunocompetent carrier adults to a susceptible child.

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in patients treated with infliximab

Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41 (3): 343–348

El ser humano como reservorio de Pneumocystis

Pneumocystis jirovecii, the fungal agent that causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), is known to exclusively infect humans. Molecular studies have enabled detection of this fungus in individuals who have been colonized by P. jirovecii. Such colonization, found in several populations, seems to act as a human reservoir for the fungus. Various studies have reported mutations associated with sulfa resistance in P. jirovecii strains isolated from colonized patients, who can transmit the mutant genotype to PCP-susceptible individuals. The growing interest in P. jirovecii colonization may prompt the design of new prevention and management strategies for PCP.

High Prevalence of Pneumocystis jiroveci Colonization Among Young HIV-Infected Patients

BACKGROUND Pneumocystis colonization in young HIV-infected patients has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in a cohort of young HIV-infected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We designed a basal cross-sectional study in 20 young HIV-infected patients to determine the prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in oropharyngeal wash samples studied by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subsequently, patients were followed up during 50 weeks to observe the development of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). RESULTS P jiroveci colonization was detected in eight (40%) of the 20 oropharyngeal wash samples. Genotype 85C/248C was the most frequent. After 50 weeks of follow-up, one colonized patient with advanced immunodepression developed PCP. CONCLUSIONS We have found a high prevalence of P jiroveci colonization in young HIV-infected patients with a major prevalence of genotype 1 (85C/248C). Further studies are necessary to clarify if Pneumocystis colonization could be a potential risk factor of developing PCP in young HIV infected patients.