The utility of sputum induction for diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia in immunocompromised patients without human immunodeficiency virus

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Nov 15;37(10):1380-3. doi: 10.1086/379071. Epub 2003 Oct 13.

Abstract

Sputum induction for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is widely used for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but its utility for patients with other forms of immunocompromise is less well defined. Immunocompromised patients with PCP who do not have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have a lower burden of organisms, and sputum induction may consequently have lower diagnostic yield in these patients. However, this retrospective review of the experience at a tertiary referral center suggests that sputum induction has clinical utility for diagnosing PCP in immunocompromised patients without HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • HIV
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host / immunology*
  • Pneumocystis carinii / isolation & purification
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sputum / microbiology*