Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in renal transplant recipients

In 1991 and 1992 Pneumocystis carinii pneu monia (PCP) was diagnosed in 28 renal transplant recipients. The incidence of PCP in our renal transplant centre was remarkably increased from 1.1% before 1991 to 11.5% in 1991–1992. We compared 28 PCP patients with a control group of 27 renal transplant recipients, matched for transplantation day and with out an episode of PCP. The mean age was significantly higher in the PCP group (50± 13 versus 38±13 years). We observed no differences in basic immunosuppres sive and rejection treatment nor in antibiotic consump tion, number of hospitalization days, and incidence of 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 period of 4 months. To the time of writing no one in this group had developed PCP.