Pneumocystis pneumonia
| Pneumocystis pneumonia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pneumocystis pneumonia; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia; Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia [outdated term]; pneumocystosis; pneumocystiasis; interstitial plasma cell pneumonia; plasma cell pneumonia |
| Pneumocystis jirovecii cysts from bronchoalveolar lavage, stained with Toluidine blue O stain | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease, Pulmonology |
| Causes | Pneumocystis jirovecii |
| Risk factors | Weakened immune system |
| Differential diagnosis | Other types of pneumonia |
| Medication | co-trimoxazole, steroids, pentamidine, trimetrexate, dapsone, atovaquone, primaquine, pafuramidine maleate and clindamycin. |
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), also known as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), is a form of pneumonia that is caused by the yeast-like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii.
Pneumocystis specimens are commonly found in the lungs of healthy people although it is usually not a cause for disease. However, they are a source of opportunistic infection and can cause lung infections in people with a weak immune system or other predisposing health conditions. PCP is seen in people with HIV/AIDS (who account for 30-40% of PCP cases), those using medications that suppress the immune system, and people with cancer, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, and chronic lung disease.