Asymptomatic carriage of Pneumocystis jirovecii and cytomegalovirus in lungs of immunocompetent patients.

Purpose: Pneumocystis jirovecii (PCP) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are opportunistic pathogens which cause lung infection in immunocompromised individuals. However, scarce data are available regarding the carriage of CMV or PCP in immunocompetent, non critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PCP and CMV in broncholaveolar lavage of adult immunocompetent, non critically ill patients.

Diagnosing pertussis: the role of polymerase chain reaction.

Background: Whereas the diagnosis of classical pertussis has traditionally been based on clinical criteria, increasing numbers of atypical presentations suggest the need for an extensive laboratory-based approach.

Objectives: To assess the relative efficacy of clinical and laboratory methods in the diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis by patient age and immunization status.

Methods: We compared the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of B.