Lima Memorial Health System Logo
Approximate ER WAIT TIME
5

Health Library

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
     
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Pneumocystis pneumonia; Pneumocystosis; PCP; Pneumocystis carinii; PJP pneumonia

 

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a fungal infection of the lungs. The disease used to be called Pneumocystis carinii or PCP pneumonia.

Causes

 

This type of pneumonia is caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii. This fungus is common in the environment and rarely causes illness in healthy people.

However, it can cause a lung infection in people with a weakened immune system due to:

  • Cancer
  • Long-term use of corticosteroids or other medicines that weaken the immune system
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Organ or bone marrow transplantation

Pneumocystis jirovecii was a rare infection before the AIDS epidemic. Before the use of preventive antibiotics for the condition, most people in the United States with advanced AIDS developed this infection.

 

Symptoms

 

Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with AIDS usually develops slowly over days to weeks or even months, and is less severe. People with pneumocystis pneumonia who do not have AIDS usually get sick faster and are more severely ill.

Symptoms include:

  • Cough, often mild and dry
  • Fever
  • Rapid breathing
  • Shortness of breath, especially with activity (exertion)

 

Exams and Tests

 

Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms.

Tests that may be ordered include:

  • Blood gases (both arterial and venous)
  • Bronchoscopy (with lavage)
  • Lung biopsy
  • X-ray of the chest
  • Sputum exam to check for fungus that causes the infection
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Beta-1,3 glucan level in the blood and/or lavage fluid from bronchoscopy

 

Treatment

 

Anti-infection medicines can be given by mouth (orally) or through a vein (intravenously), depending on how severe the illness is.

People with low oxygen levels and moderate to severe disease are often prescribed corticosteroids as well.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Pneumocystis pneumonia can be life threatening. It can cause respiratory failure that can lead to death. People with this condition need early and effective treatment. For moderate to severe pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS, the short term use of corticosteroids has decreased the incidence of death.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications that may result include:

  • Pleural effusion (extremely rare)
  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
  • Respiratory failure (may require breathing support)

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

If you have a weakened immune system due to AIDS, cancer, transplantation, or corticosteroid use, contact your provider if you develop a cough, fever, or shortness of breath.

 

Prevention

 

Preventive therapy is recommended for:

  • People with HIV/AIDS who have CD4 counts below 200 cells/microliter or 200 cells/cubic millimeter
  • Bone marrow transplant recipients
  • Organ transplant recipients
  • People who take long-term, high-dose corticosteroids
  • People who have had previous episodes of this infection
  • People who take long-term immunomodulatory medicines

 

 

References

Kovacs JA. Pneumocystis pneumonia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 313.

Miller RF Walzer PD, Smulian AG. Pneumocystis species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 269.

BACK TO TOPText only

 
  • Lungs

    Lungs

    illustration

  • AIDS

    AIDS

    illustration

  • Pneumocystosis

    Pneumocystosis

    illustration

    • Lungs

      Lungs

      illustration

    • AIDS

      AIDS

      illustration

    • Pneumocystosis

      Pneumocystosis

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Self Care

       

        Tests for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

         
           

          Review Date: 12/31/2023

          Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

          The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
          © 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.