title: Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii infection in HIV-seropositive patients by identification of P carinii in pleural fluid.
abstract: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common pulmonary complication of AIDS and is typically diagnosed by the identification of P carinii organisms in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or tissue obtained with transbronchial biopsy. We describe two HIV-seropositive patients with pleural effusions in whom the diagnosis of P carinii infection was made by examination of pleural fluid. Pleural effusions associated with PCP are very unusual but can provide a source of diagnostic material particularly in those HIV patients who have development of a spontaneous pneumothorax and require chest tube insertion.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, University of California at San Francisco.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schaumberg
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schnapp
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Golden
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000382:microbiology*; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis*