title: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis: current therapies and recommendations.
abstract: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) can be life threatening for children receiving chemotherapy and immunosuppressive medication, including high-dose steroids. Although there are no current guidelines for prophylaxis in pediatric oncology patients, ongoing studies are evaluating the efficacy, side effects, ease of administration, and compliance of drugs used for PCP prophylaxis. Drugs currently being prescribed in practice include Bactrim, pentamidine, dapsone, and atovaquone. Bactrim remains superior for preventing PCP, but alternatives are being analyzed and investigated for those unable to tolerate Bactrim because of drug allergy or side effects. Educating patients and families about the importance of PCP prophylaxis and compliance should be a priority for all health care providers caring for children receiving immunosuppressive medications, including chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. faith_crozier@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crozier
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053626:Atovaquone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010419:Pentamidine; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D003622:Dapsone; D053626:Atovaquone