Diagnosis and management of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection

White, P. Lewis, Backx, Matthijs and Barnes, Rosemary 2017. Diagnosis and management of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 15 (5) , pp. 435-447. 10.1080/14787210.2017.1305887

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Abstract

Introduction: Pneumocystis jirovecii is a ubiquitous fungus, which causes pneumonia in humans. Diagnosis was hampered by the inability to culture the organism, and based on microscopic examination of respiratory samples or clinical presentation. New assays can assist in the diagnosis and even aid with the emergence of resistant infections. Areas covered: This manuscript will provide background information on Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP). Diagnosis, from radiological to non-microbiological (e.g. Lactate dehydrogenase) and microbiological investigations (Microscopy, PCR, β-D-Glucan) will be discussed. Recommendations on prophylactic and therapeutic management will be covered. Expert commentary: PcP diagnosis using microscopy is far from optimal and false negatives will occur. With an incidence of 1% or less, the pre-test probability of not having PcP is 99% and testing is suited to excluding disease. Microscopy provides a high degree of diagnostic confidence but it is not infallible, and its lower sensitivity limits its application. Newer diagnostics (PCR, β-D-Glucan) can aid management and improve performance when testing less invasive specimens, such as upper respiratory samples or blood, alleviating clinical pressure. Combination testing may allow PcP to be both diagnosed and excluded, and molecular testing can assist in the detection of emerging resistant PcP.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	PcP diagnosis, PcP management, Pneumocystis jirovecii
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	1478-7210
Date of Acceptance:	9 March 2017
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2024 20:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/101132

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