Search for Pneumocystis Carinii DNA in Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract of Humans [Oz HS and Hughes WT. Diag Microbiol Infect Dis 2000; 37: 161]: The authors examined nasal swabs, throat swabs and saliva for detection of P. carinii DNA sequences by PCR. Among 258 specimens from 86 healthy participants, none were positive. An additional 45 specimens including 27 BAL and 18 sputum samples were examined from 31 patients with AIDS and evidence of pulmonary infection. Of these, 11 AIDS patients had PCP according to BAL studies, and P. carinii DNA was detected in all of them; 20 patients with Pneumonitis and negative BAL specimens were uniformly negative for P. carinii DNA. The authors conclude that P. carinii DNA in oropharyngeal secretions is sensitive and specific for detecting PCP.
Comment: This is an impressive report about the potential diagnostic utility of PCR technology for detection of PCP using oropharyngeal secretions. The implication is that this could be a substitute for induced sputum, which is much less sensitive, and for bronchoscopy, which is more invasive and expensive. posted 8/7/2000