Skip to main content

Table 2 Microbiological diagnosis

From: Critical care management and outcome of severe Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with and without HIV infection

 

HIV-negative cases

HIV-positive cases

 

n = 27

n = 46

Method of diagnosis, number (percentage of cases)

  

   BAL

24 (89)

42 (92)

Positive at staining

14

36

Positive at immunofluorescence

24

42

   Induced sputum

1 (4)

2 (4)

Positive at staining

0

2

Positive at immunofluorescence

1

2

   Tracheal aspiration

2 (7)

2 (4)

Positive at staining

0

2

Positive at immunofluorescence

2

2

Density of Pneumocystis jiroveci on the BAL fluida, percentage of all BAL

  

   'Many'

35%

81%

   'Few'

65%

19%

Neutrophil count on the BAL, cells per microliter, median (range)

65,475 (6,000–733,500)

24,750 (320–480,000)

Other pathogens identified by BAL, number

  

   Cytomegalovirus

1

4

   Streptococcus pneumoniae

2

1

   Pseudomonas aeruginosa

0

1

   Cryptococcus neoformans

0

1

  1. aThe density of P. jiroveci organisms was graded as 'many' when foamy alveolar casts were easily visualized on all slides and as 'few' when foamy alveolar casts were not individualized at first-glance evaluation. BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage.
Back to article page

Critical Care

ISSN: 1364-8535