Fatal Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-seropositive infants in Harare, Zimbabwe

Lung biopsies taken post mortem from 24 HIV-seropositive children who died of pneumonia in Harare Hospital (Zimbabwe) during 1995 were examined for pa thogens using histology, culture, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pneumocystis carinii was detected in 16 (67%) children, in 5 of whom bacterial pathogens were also detected. There were 2 cases of cytomegalovi rus infection. On the basis of histology and PCR,. none of the children had tuberculosis. These data add to the evidence that P. carinii pneumonia may be a significant cause of death in HIV-infected children in southern Afric a. Policies on treatment for severe pneumonia, and on prophylaxis for child ren born to HIV-seropositive mothers need to be re-examined.