title: Prevention of pneumocystis pneumonia. Use of continuous sulfamethoxazole-trimethroprim therapy.
abstract: Owing to a 15% attack rate of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis (PCP) among the leukemic population of Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, a two-year study using continuous low-dosage sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim to prevent PCP was started in January 1977. A total of 229 pediatric cancer patients considered at high risk for getting PCP received prophylaxis, while 19 additonal low-risk cancer patients did not receive sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. None of these 248 patients contracted PCP. However, five cases of PCP did occur among ten additional high-risk patients who failed to receive this preparation for a variety of reasons. Complications of the continuous prophylaxis program included neutropenia, rash, and gastrointestinal complaints. This study confirms that continuous, low-dosage sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim prophylaxis is effective in preventing PCP in susceptible immunosuppressed patients but is ineffective in eradicating the organism from the population at risk.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole