Editorial support by: Dr. Paolo Nikolai So, Dr. Mythri Shankar 

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection. It is caused by the ubiquitous fungus, Pneumocystis jirovecii with which the majority of us are infected in early childhood. Latent infection in the lungs may give rise to clinical disease in the immunocompromised. Alternatively, de novo infection contracted by person-to-person transmission or acquired from an environmental reservoir can lead to disease, again on the background of suppressed immunity. While prophylactic antibiotics lower the incidence of PJP in those at risk, the use of these in patients on immunosuppression for glomerular diseases is not standardized. 

In June 2021, the British Columbia Renal Association published a guideline for PJP prophylaxis in patients on immunosuppression for glomerulonephritis, based on the available literature on the efficacy of PJP prophylaxis in patients on different regimens of immunosuppression. The suggested approach to PJP prophylaxis in patients with glomerulonephritis is presented in this infographic.

The guideline recommends prevention for patients with certain risk factors based on various clinical scenarios and the immunosuppressive regimen presented in the infographic. Some risk factors bear more weight than others, and clinical judgment is necessary for deciding. 

The suggestion is to use PJP prophylaxis in patients with the following risk factors, irrespective of immunosuppressive regimen:

• Cytomegalovirus infection
• Lymphopenia (lymphocyte count < 0.5 x 109 cells/L) or low CD4 count (< 200 cells/microL)
• Prolonged neutropenia

Some authors consider hypogammaglobulinemia a risk factor for PJP. Still, it has not been included in these guidelines because it could lead to over-treatment in patients with nephrotic syndrome. 

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is the first-line drug of choice, based on its higher efficacy than other available prophylactic agents. Alternative agents include dapsone and the relatively more expensive options such as pentamidine (nebulized) and atovaquone. 

Further, the recently published KDIGO 2021 guidelines provide general recommendations for PJP prophylaxis for patients on high-dose steroids or receiving cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Specific considerations for each glomerular disease are:

• Lupus nephritis. Consider patients receiving high-dose steroids—however, caution for higher risk of adverse events with sulfa drugs.
• Anti Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease. Consider for the duration of cyclophosphamide therapy.
• ANCA-associated vasculitis. Consider for the duration of cyclophosphamide therapy or six months after the last dose of rituximab (longer for ongoing steroid use).
• IgAN – consider while on prednisolone equivalent ≥0.5 mg/kg/d.