Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia; Lost Lives in Pregnancy: Chemoprophylaxis Saves Lives
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is spread by the airborne route. It caused significant morbidity and mortality in the early stages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic before the advent of anti-retroviral chemotherapeutic agents. It is now decreasing in incidence due to anti-pneumocystis therapy but still causes maternal deaths in HIV infected pregnant mothers.
Historically, pneumonia during pregnancy has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to nonpregnant women. Acute lung injury during pregnancy results in high morbidity and mortality for both the mother and the fetus.
In the USA, Pneumocystis carinni pneumonia is the most common cause of AIDS-related death in pregnant women. Many HIV-infected persons in the USA remain at high risk of opportunistic infection because they are unaware of their HIV infection.
It therefore remains a subject of great importance to the population especially in areas with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. There is a proven chemoprevention agent that is safe and reduces morbidity and mortality in HIV/AIDS patients.
All efforts must be made to save lives of pregnant women regardless of their HIV serostatus. The causative infective agent is the unicellular Pneumocystis jirovecii. This is a common fungus found in the environment and rarely causes disease in healthy people.
Pulm Res Respir Med Open J. 2016; 4(1): 5-8. doi: 10.17140/PRRMOJ-4-131
