Document 0627
 DOCN  M9650627
 TI    Comparison of PCR and standard cytological staining for detection of
       Pneumocystis carinii from respiratory specimens from patients with or at
       high risk for infection by human immunodeficiency virus.
 DT    9605
 AU    Leibovitz E; Pollack H; Moore T; Papellas J; Gallo L; Krasinski K;
       Borkowsky W; Department of Pediatrics, New York University Medical
       Center, New; York 10016, USA.
 SO    J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Nov;33(11):3004-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96121257
 AB    The detection of Pneumocystis carinii DNA by PCR was compared with
       routine cytologic staining techniques (CYT). A total of 284 clinical
       respiratory specimens, including 137 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), 63
       bronchoalveolar washing, 63 sputum, and 21 induced sputum samples,
       obtained from patients with or at high risk for human immunodeficiency
       virus infection were evaluated. Eighty specimens were positive by PCR,
       and 69 were positive by CYT. PCR was able to detect P. carinii in more
       bronchoalveolar washing specimens (15 versus 11) and in comparable BAL
       specimens (53 versus 54) compared with CYT. PCR was particularly more
       sensitive than CYT in detecting P. carinii in expectorated sputum (12
       versus 4 samples). Of the 19 patients whose respiratory specimens were
       positive for P. carinii by PCR but negative by CYT, 5 had P. carinii
       pneumonia (PCP) confirmed by subsequent BAL and transbronchial or
       mediastinal lymph node biopsy and 9 had a clinical course highly
       suggestive of acute PCP. Eleven (58%) of the 19 patients with discordant
       PCR and CYT results had received prior anti-PCP prophylaxis. In this
       clinical setting in particular and in the evaluation of sputum
       specimens, the ability of PCR to detect a low parasitic load suggests
       that this technique may become an important additional tool, along with
       current cytological methods, for the detection of P. carinii.
 DE    Adult  Bronchoalveolar Lavage  Child  Comparative Study  Human  *HIV
       Infections/COMPLICATIONS  Lung Neoplasms/COMPLICATIONS  Pneumonia,
       Pneumocystis carinii/COMPLICATIONS/*DIAGNOSIS  Polymerase Chain
       Reaction/*METHODS  Risk Factors  Sputum/MICROBIOLOGY  Staining/*METHODS
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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