title: Is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after stem cell transplantations a contagious disease?
abstract: We report of twins who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for neonatal acute leukemia. Hospitalized in the same room from the time the first one demonstrated respiratory symptoms, they both developed Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly carinii) pneumonia (PCP) 2 wk apart. This observation suggests that PCP may be a contagious disease in HSCT recipients. This may be especially true for infants and young children who are at risk of primary P. jiroveci infection, and should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cancer Immunotherapy, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Igor B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Averbuch
authors.forename: Memet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aker
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engelhard
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy*; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents