[Induced expectoration: its role in the diagnosis of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia].

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the changes and the effect of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis on induced sputum sensitivity during these five last years

Methods: An induced sputum examination was performed in 80 cases of PCP over a 5-year period.

Results: The induced sputum were positive in 30 cases (sensitivity = 37.5%). This sensitivity changed very little during these five years. Thirty of these 80 patients (37.5%) received PCP prophylaxis at least for four weeks before PCP diagnosis. Induced sputum sensitivity was 50% in the group with prophylaxis versus 30% in the group without prophylaxis (p = 0.073).

Conclusion: In our institution, the induced sputum examination remains an interesting diagnostic procedure for PCP. PCP prophylaxis does not seem to have effects on induced sputum sensitivity.