Volume 10, Number 4—April 2004
Research
Pneumocystis jiroveci Dihydropteroate Synthase Genotypes in Immunocompetent Infants and Immunosuppressed Adults, Amiens, France
Table 1
Characteristics of 45 infants and 13 adults from the University Hospital of Amiens, France, for whom Pneumocystis jiroveci organisms were examined at the dihydropteroate synthase locus
Characteristics | Infants | Adults | |
---|---|---|---|
Risk factor for Pneumocystis infection |
Young agea |
Immunodeficiencyb |
|
No. of patients |
45 |
13 |
|
Median age (range) |
4.3 mo (1.9–11.8) |
35 y (29–67) |
|
Sex ratio, M/F |
26/19 |
10/3 |
|
Period of specimen retrieval |
November 1999–April 2001 |
June 1996–November 2001 |
|
Kind of specimens |
Nasopharyngeal aspirate |
Bronchoalveolar lavage |
|
Method of P. jirovecii detection |
PCR assayc |
Both microscopyd and PCR assay |
|
Form of Pneumocystis infection | Colonizatione | Pneumocystis pneumonia |
aYoung age renders it compatible with primary Pneumocystis infection.
bHIV infection (n = 9), renal transplant (n = 2), and long-term corticosteroid treatment (n = 2).
cPCR, polymerase chain reaction assay, at the mitochondrial large sub-unit rRNA gene.
dMethanol-Giemsa stain and immunofluorescence assay (Bio-Rad, Marnes la Coquette, France).
eClinical improvement observed despite the absence of treatment for the fungus.