Abstractimmunodeficient patients. 10-13 P carinii DNA has recently been detected in air filters from Background -An extrahuman reservoir of human pathogenic Pneumocystis carinii animal facilities housing immunosuppressed rats with P carinii pneumonia (PCP) as well as remains unknown. Host to host transmission has been described in animal from air filters from inpatient and outpatient rooms in hospital departments treating patients studies and in cluster cases among immunodeficient patients. P carinii DNA has with PCP.14 15Raised P carinii antibody titres, detected by recently been detected in air filters from inpatient and outpatient rooms in de-immunofluorescence, have previously been described in serum samples from staff in close partments of infectious diseases managing patients with P carinii pneumonia (PCP), contact with patients with PCP compared with staff without contact with AIDS patients.
16suggesting the airborne route of transmission. Exposure of staff to P carinii may These results raise the question whether staff may transmit the microorganism from one occur in hospital departments treating patients with PCP.patient to another, and whether the patient should be placed in respiratory isolation. In Methods -Exposure to P carinii was detected by serological responses to human order to contribute to this debate we in- partments for at least six months and were in
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