PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII PNEUMONIA

Course overview

PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA (PCP), NOW REFERRED TO AS PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII PNEUMONIA IS A FUNGAL INFECTION THAT MOST COMMONLY AFFECTS THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND, IN SOME CASES, CAN BE SEVERELY LIFE-THREATENING. TYPICALLY, PATIENTS AT RISK ARE THOSE WITH ANY UNDERLYING DISEASE STATES THAT ALTER HOST IMMUNITY SUCH AS THOSE WITH CANCER, THE HIV, TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, OR THOSE TAKING IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPIES AND MEDICATIONS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSE, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECI PNEUMONIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.