Prevalence and effect of a combined treatment on pneumocystitis pneumonia.

Pneumocystitis may cause fatal pneumonia in premature, seriously ill infants at intensive care units. The present study evaluated the routine treatment applied at Sohag pediatrics department for neonatal and infantile pneumonia (in NICU & PICU) on PCP and to compare between the stained slides and real time-PCR in diagnosing Pneumocystis jirovecii. Sucked sputum from 21 pneumonic infants was collected, some for Giemsa stain and microscopic examination and the rest for PCR. The same procedure was done after regression of the symptoms and before release from the units. Serum samples were also collected on admission and discharge for CRP readings which was also used as an indicative of the healing process. Out of 21 pneumonic neonates and infants examined, 12 (57.1%) showed P. jirovecii in sputum samples with a significant difference between both groups (p=0.2). 10 of them (83.3%) became negative for P. jirovecii under the routine regimen of treatment. Also 2 cases were infected with microspora, both improved at the end of treatment. While real time PCR was negative in all cases pre and post treatment. CRP levels regressed after treatment in all cases except 2 as one showed post treatment P. jirovecii in the sputum.