We compared a universal fungal PCR assay with fluorescence microscopy for t
he diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. 82 bronchoalveolar lavages
(BAL) of 64 immunocompromised patients with atypical pneumonia and 50 BALs
of 50 immunocompetent adults without lung disease were examined. 10 immunoc
ompromised patients were clinically and/or histologically proven to suffer
from PCP. For fluorescence microscopy, sensitivity and specificity in detec
ting P. carinii were 80.0% and 98.1%, for the PCR assay 100.0% and 96.2%, r
espectively. The PCR assay is a useful method for the diagnosis of PCP and
is recommended as an additional test to microscopical methods.