Pneumocystis pneumonia

Pneumocystis pneumonia
Other names	Pneumocystis pneumonia; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia; Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia [outdated term]; pneumocystosis;[1] pneumocystiasis;[1] interstitial plasma cell pneumonia;[1] plasma cell pneumonia
Pneumocystis jirovecii cysts from bronchoalveolar lavage, stained with Toluidine blue O stain
Specialty	Infectious disease, Pulmonology
Causes	Pneumocystis jirovecii[2]
Risk factors	Weakened immune system[2]
Differential diagnosis	Other types of pneumonia
Medication	co-trimoxazole,[2] steroids, pentamidine, trimetrexate, dapsone, atovaquone, primaquine, pafuramidine maleate and clindamycin.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), also known as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), is a form of pneumonia that is caused by the yeast-like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii.^[3][4]

Pneumocystis specimens are commonly found in the lungs of healthy people although it is usually not a cause for disease.^[5] However, they are a source of opportunistic infection and can cause lung infections in people with a weak immune system or other predisposing health conditions. PCP is seen in people with HIV/AIDS (who account for 30-40% of PCP cases), those using medications that suppress the immune system, and people with cancer, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, and chronic lung disease.^[2]