title: Role of PCR for diagnosing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-infected individuals in a tertiary care hospital in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In developing countries like India, the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection is often made either by conventional staining or clinically. This study was planned to know the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, to compare the PCR results with that of staining techniques and also to correlate the results with clinical condition of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study included 50 HIV-infected adult in-patients with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection. Induced sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage or tracheal aspirate were proceeded for both staining and PCR for mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene of P. jirovecii.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study PCR results correlated with staining findings in 14% (7/50) of cases. Another 20% (10/50) cases could be diagnosed only with PCR, where staining was negative for the presence of P. jirovecii. When compared with clinical evidence of disease, PCR showed 93.7% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity. Presence of dyspnea and CD 4 count showed statistical significance (P<0.05) in PCP-diagnosed patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR can be used for early and accurate diagnosis of PCP in HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. arunkiranchawla@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: Suganthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martena
authors.forename: Bimala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurung
authors.forename: Chiranjay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Indira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bairy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S