Malnutrition increases the risk of infections in patients receiving medical and surgical procedures, but it is not clear whether it may facilitate also the development of opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients not receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Here we report the first case of a non-HIV, severely malnourished woman who developed Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. This report highlights the clinical relevance of malnutrition as a determinant of immune suppression, which in turn may also favor opportunistic infections. Therefore, routine nutrition screening and assessment, as well as timely start of nutrition therapy, should be prioritized in daily clinical practice to reduce complications and improve outcome.
Keywords: Pneumocystis jirovecii; Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP); anorexia nervosa; immune suppression; prophylaxis; protein-calorie malnutrition.
© 2014 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.