[Pneumocystis carinii infection. Various aspects on its clinical and laboratory diagnosis].
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.
Lorca
M
M
Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina (División Cs. Médicas Occidente) Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Tassara
R
R
Denegri
M
M
Sierra
P
P
García
A
A
Muñoz
P
P
Barría
M S
MS
Henríquez
A
A
Caviedes
I
I
Wu
E
E
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*
Infección por Pneumocystis carinii. Algunos alcances sobre su diagnóstico clínico y de laboratorio.