The compromised host and infection. I. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

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Abstract
Pneumocystis pneumonia occurred in 5 adults. Each of them was receiving immunosuppressive drug therapy for underlying lymphoma or systemic lupus erythematosus at the time pneumonitis became evident Premortem diagnosis of infection was made in 3 of the patients by open-lung biopsy, and 2 were treated with specific therapy. Two other patients hospitalized in the same room showed signs of Pneumocystis infection within 1 week of each other. This experience and data from studies of pneumocystosis within families and in European nurseries suggest that contagion may play a role in acquisition of the infection, although experimental animal models and other reported cases in man imply that activation of already latent infection with Pneumocystis accounts for overt disease. A review of the literature acquaints the reader with problems in diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of the disease.

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