title: [Pneumocystis carinii infection. Various aspects on its clinical and laboratory diagnosis].
abstract: P carinii is an opportunistic pathogenic agent able to produce severe infection that must be diagnosed promptly. We analyzed 138 samples from 100 patients suspected of having infection by P carinii. The ortho-toluidine blue and the methenamine stains were used to analyze the samples. Infection was demonstrated in 18 patients, 13 adults and 5 children. Underlying disease was AIDS in 7 and other immunosuppressive disorders in the rest. No immunocompetent patient was infected with P carinii. Proper sample collection is important for diagnosis. When bronchoalveolar lavage is not possible, pharyngo-tracheal aspirate in children and sputum sampling after assisted coughing in adults are recommended. At least 2 staining methods and proper controls are advisable.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina (División Cs. Médicas Occidente) Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tassara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denegri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Barría
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henríquez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caviedes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
vernacular_title: Infección por Pneumocystis carinii. Algunos alcances sobre su diagnóstico clínico y de laboratorio.