THE SPECTRUM OF Pneumocystis carinii INFECTION AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDREN

Abstract
We report the experience with Pneumocystis carinii lung infections in the 109 children undergoing liver transplantation at our hospital between August, 1985 and May, 1989. PCP developed in 9 of the 86 patients (10%) surviving > or = 6 weeks after transplantation and not receiving P carinii chemoprophylaxis. Of the 59 patients undergoing BAL 2 or more weeks after transplantation there were 16 specimens from 14 patients (24%) positive for P carinii. These patients had a spectrum of illness ranging from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation. The mean interval from first transplantation to bronchoalveolar lavage positive for P carinii was 24.9 weeks and the mean interval to first PCP was 28.0 weeks. The earliest and latest occurrences of PCP were 7 weeks and 73 weeks, respectively, after transplantation. There were no complications attributed to BAL.

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