Polymerase chain reaction for diagnosing pneumocystis pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates.
BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis jiroveci polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has higher sensitivity than conventional stains but cannot distinguish colonization from infection.


METHODS
We compared P jiroveci PCR and conventional stains in HIV-uninfected immunocompromised patients.


RESULTS
Among the 448 patients, 296 (66%) patients had hematologic malignancies; 72 (16.1%), bone marrow transplants; 44 (9.8%), solid tumors; 21 (4.7%), renal transplants; and 15 (3.4%) were taking immunosuppressants for systemic diseases. Diagnostic strategy consisted of BAL in 351 patients and induced sputum (IS) in 97 patients. Conventional pneumocystic pneumonia (PCP) stain was positive in 39 (8.7%) patients, including 34 with positive PCR. In addition, PCR was positive in 32 patients, including 21 with complete follow-up, of whom 14 were diagnosed with probable or definitive PCP (a 36% increase). PCR was 87.2% sensitive and 92.2% specific; positive and negative predictive values were 51.5% and 98.7%, respectively. Sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100% on IS.


CONCLUSIONS
In HIV-uninfected immunocompromised patients with acute pulmonary infiltrates, P jiroveci PCR correlates with clinical evidence of PCP. A negative PCR allows withdrawing anti-PCP therapy.
Azoulay
Élie
É
Intensive Care Unit, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France. Electronic address: elie.azoulay@sls.ap-hop-paris.fr.
Bergeron
Anne
A
Pulmonology Department, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France.
Chevret
Sylvie
S
Intensive Care Unit, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France.
Bele
Nicolas
N
Intensive Care Unit, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France.
Schlemmer
Benoît
B
Intensive Care Unit, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France.
Menotti
Jean
J
Intensive Care Unit, Paris 7 Diderot University, Saint-Louis Teaching Hospital, Paris, France.
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology