Extrapulmonary infection with Pneumocystis carinii in AIDS patients on aerosolized pentamidine is occurring more frequently. We report five patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal pneumocystosis while on aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis and have identified infections involving the peritoneum, liver, and transverse colon, as well as stomach and duodenum. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for extrapulmonary pneumocystosis, especially involving the gastrointestinal system, in HIV-infected patients, and early diagnosis must be pursued aggressively. The use of aerosolized pentamidine as prophylaxis for P. carinii pneumonia is not protective against gastrointestinal pneumocystosis because of inadequate systemic distribution of the drug. To our knowledge, this is the first report in a clinical journal documenting and photographing P. carinii organisms in ascitic fluid.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Infective pulmonary diseases and the eye: a narrative review.
Monaldi Arch Chest Dis
September 2024
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot.
Article Synopsis
- The text highlights the connection between pulmonary infections and ocular diseases, stressing the importance of understanding this relationship for effective management of both conditions.* ! -
- Ocular tuberculosis, while often lacking pulmonary symptoms, can impact various eye structures, requiring specific tests to confirm its diagnosis and presenting risks of toxic optic neuropathy from certain anti-TB medications.* ! -
- Several respiratory viruses also affect both the lungs and eyes, and there is a call for more research to improve diagnosis and identify biomarkers for early signs of drug-induced eye toxicity.* !
Laryngeal Leishmaniasis: A Neglected, Emerging Disease in Northern Italy.
J Voice
April 2024
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Leishmaniasis represents an emerging public health issue in Mediterranean countries. The incidence of this condition has progressively risen in Northern Italy due to the growing number of immunocompromised people and probably due to climate changes. We hereby describe a case of relapsing laryngeal leishmaniasis in a female immunocompetent patient, presenting as aspecific chronic laryngitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA retrospective study of intravenous pentamidine for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis in adult patients with hematologic malignancies-its utility during respiratory virus pandemics.
Int J Infect Dis
June 2024
Singhealth Duke-NUS Transplant Centre, Singapore; Singhealth Duke-NUS Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address:
Objectives: In hematology, prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is recommended for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and in selected categories of intensive chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the recommended first-line agent; however, its use is not straightforward. Inhaled pentamidine is the recommended second-line agent; however, aerosolized medications were discouraged during respiratory virus outbreaks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, in view of potential contamination risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparative efficacy and safety of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis regimens for people living with HIV: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Clin Microbiol Infect
July 2024
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, QC, Montréal, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, Clinical Practice Assessment Unit, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a common opportunistic infection among people living with HIV (PWH), particularly among new and untreated cases. Several regimens are available for the prophylaxis of PCP, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), dapsone-based regimens (DBRs), aerosolized pentamidine (AP), and atovaquone.
Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of PCP prophylaxis regimens in PWH by network meta-analysis.
In Vitro Evaluation of Aerosol Therapy with Pentamidine-Loaded Liposomes Coated with Chondroitin Sulfate or Heparin for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis.
Pharmaceutics
April 2023
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Rosselló 149-153, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Article Synopsis
- Pentamidine, an antileishmanial drug, is typically given through injection but has serious side effects like diabetes and renal toxicity, which limit its use.
- Researchers tested phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) to enhance the efficacy and patient compliance of pentamidine via aerosol therapy, finding that coated liposomes improved targeting to infected macrophages and reduced cytotoxicity.
- The study revealed that nebulized liposome-encapsulated pentamidine significantly increased drug deposition in the lungs and could provide a more effective and self-administered treatment option for leishmaniasis and other related infections.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!