Effectiveness of low-dose cotrimoxazole prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after renal and/or pancreas transplantation.

We retrospectively examined the effectiveness of prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole in preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in recipients of kidney and combined kidney-pancreas transplants between 1985 and 1989. Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (480 mg daily or 300 mg/m2), when used, was started within 2 months after transplantation and usually continued until 6 months after surgery. Eight (3.7%) of the 214 patients who were not given prophylaxis were infected with Pneumocystis carinii, and there were 4 fatalities (50% mortality). There were no cases among the 161 patients given prophylaxis (P less than or equal to 0.03). No serious adverse effects were noted in the prophylaxis group. It is concluded that prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii infection is well tolerated and should be given as soon as possible to all organ transplant recipients for at least 6 months.