Identification of Pneumocystis carinii in the lungs of infants dying of sudden infant death syndrome

Background. Recently Pneumocystis carinii has been identified in a signific ant number of infants diagnosed as having died from sudden infant death syn drome (SIDS) in South America and Europe. Methods. We examined lung sections of 79 infants who died with a diagnosis of SIDS in Rochester, NY, and Connecticut for the presence of P. carinii. Results. Organisms with a characteristic silver stain appearance for P, car inii were identified in 14% of the lung sections. Conclusions. These data suggest that a possible link between some cases of SIDS and infection with P. carinii should be further evaluated and that inf ection of young infants may serve as an important reservoir for human P. ca rinii.