DIAGNOSIS OF PCP BY ITSS NESTED PCR ON NOTINVASIVE OROPHARINGEAL SAMPLES

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is an opportunistic disease usually aff ecting immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis is based on the microscopica l detection of microrganism on BAL, an invasive sample which requires pt compliance for collection and skilled health care personnel for exa mination. In order to verify the possible diagnostic utility of noninv asive specimens collected in the upper respiratory tract we examined b y the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITSs) nested PCR, 39 oropharingeal samples (garglings) collected from 20 HIVAb positive pts and from 15 healthy controls.