Performance of Quantitative PCR to Distinguish Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia From Colonisation in Immunocompromised Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a severe opportunistic infection affecting immunocompromised patients. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is widely used for the detection of P. jirovecii in respiratory samples. However, the diagnosis of PCP remains challenging and the high prevalence of P. jirovecii airway colonisation complicates the interpretation of positive results. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of P. jirovecii PCR Quantification Cycle (Cq) values in differentiating between PCP and colonisation in PCR-positive respiratory samples from immunocompromised patients.

Methods

Adult patients with P. jirovecii detected by qPCR in respiratory samples (bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), sputum and oral wash) collected between 2017 and 2

SUBMITTER: Cederwall S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530012 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature