[Diagnostic of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a non HIV patient].

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is an opportunistic infection affecting not only HIV patient but also patients with others causes of immunosuppression. The reference method for the diagnostic is the direct visualization of the pathogen in induced sputum or in bronchoalveolar lavage with a low sensibility. Direct immunofluorescence does not increase significantly this sensibility on IS. The PCR has been demonstrated to have 100% sensitivity. This gives rise to the problem of falsely positive results in patients, colonized by P. jiroveci (8,9-26,9%) but suffering from a pneumonia due to another pathogen. Use of quantitative PCR or serum beta-D-glucan, might be helpful to distinguish colonization from infection. This paper reviews the literature on the diagnostic of PCP in non HIV patients.