Evaluation of direct immunofluorescent method in the detection of pneumocystis jiroveci among patients with lower respiratory tract infections

Abstract EN

Objective: Evaluate the use of direct immunofluorescent method in the detection of Pneumocystis jiroveci from induced sputum of patients with LRT infections.

Patients and methods: Thirty patients with LRT infections were included (24 patients were immunocompromised and 6 immunocompetent).

The present study conducted for 6 months from January-June, 2011.

Smears were prepared from their induced sputa and stained with direct fluorescent antibody stain, then examined under fluorescent microscope.

Results: Sputum of 5(16.7%) patients revealed positive results for the presence of P.

jiroveci and all of them were immunocompromised (two acute myloid leukemia, one acute lymphoid leukemia, one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and one asthma under long coarse of corticosteroid therapy).

Conclusion: Direct fluorescent antibody technique is more sensitive than the conventional methods for the detection of P.

jiroveci in LRT infections.