title: Detection of Pneumocystis carinii and characterization of mutations associated with sulfa resistance in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects.
abstract: One hundred ninety-four bronchoalveolar specimens were evaluated by microscopic examination and by amplification of a sequence of a Pneumocystis carinii dihidropteroate synthase gene for identification of mutations linked to sulfa resistance. PCR sensitivity and specificity were 100 and 86.7%, respectively, compared to results of microscopic examination. However, 7 out of 19 microscopy-negative, PCR-positive samples were collected from subjects with a clinically high probability of P. carinii pneumonia, suggesting that PCR may be more sensitive than microscopic examination, although the absolute performance of PCR cannot be determined. Mutations were identified in 28 out of 70 (40%) PCR-positive specimens and were significantly more common in patients exposed to sulfa drugs (21 out of 29 [72.4%]) than in those not exposed to sulfa drugs (4 out of 35 [11.4%]).
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Division. Clinical Molecular Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zingale
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scarpellini
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D003622:Dapsone; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase