DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII INFECTION IN HIV-SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS BY IDENTIFICATION OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII IN PLEURAL FLUID

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common pulmonary comp lication of AIDS and is typically diagnosed by the identification of P carinii organisms in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or tissue obtained with transbronchial biopsy. We describe two HIV-seropositive patients with pleural effusions in whom the diagnosis of P carinii inf ection was made by examination of pleural fluid. Pleural effusions ass ociated with PCP are very unusual but can provide a source of diagnost ic material particularly in those HIV patients who have development of a spontaneous pneumothorax and require chest tube insertion.