Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in renal transplant recipients

In 1991 and 1992 Pneumocystis carinii pneu monia (PCP) was diagnosedin 28 renal transplant recipients. The incidence of PCP in ourrenal transplant centre was remarkably increased from 1.1% before1991 to 11.5% in 1991–1992. We compared 28 PCP patientswith a control group of 27 renal transplant recipients, matchedfor transplantation day and with out an episode of PCP. Themean age was significantly higher in the PCP group (50±13 versus 38±13 years). We observed no differences inbasic immunosuppres sive and rejection treatment nor in antibioticconsump tion, number of hospitalization days, and incidenceof CMV infection. In March 1993 we introduced PCP prophylaxis.More than 140 renal transplant recipients received co-trimoxazole,starting 1 day after trans plantation and continued for a periodof 4 months. To the time of writing no one in this group haddeveloped PCP.