A Comprehensive Evaluation of Risk Factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Adult Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background. There is no consensus guidance on when to reinitiate Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients at increased risk. The 2019 American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice (AST IDCOP) guidelines suggested to continue or reinstitute PJP prophylaxis in those receiving intensified immunosuppression for graft rejection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, higher dose of corticosteroids, or prolonged neutropenia. Methods. A literature search was conducted evaluating all literature from existence through April 22, 2020, using MEDLINE and EMBASE. (The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42019134204). Results. A total of 30 studies with 413 276 SOT recipients were included. The following factors were associated with PJP development: acute rejection (pooled odds ratio [pOR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69-3.26); study heterogeneity index [I²] = 23.4%), CMV-related illnesses (pOR, 3.14; 95% CI, 2.30-4.29; I²= 48%), absolute lymphocyte count <500 cells/mm³(pOR, 6.29; 95% CI, 3.56-11.13; I²= 0%), BK polyomavirus-related diseases (pOR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.22-5.49; I²= 0%), HLA mismatch ≥3 (pOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.06-3.17; I²= 0%), rituximab use (pOR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.82-5.04; I²= 0%), and polyclonal antibodies use for rejection (pOR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.87-8.19; I²= 0%). On the other hand, sex, CMV mismatch, interleukin-2 inhibitors, corticosteroids for rejection, and plasmapheresis were not associated with developing PJP. Conclusions. PJP prophylaxis should be considered in SOT recipients with lymphopenia, BK polyomavirus-related infections, and rituximab exposure in addition to the previously mentioned risk factors in the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice guidelines.