Pneumocystis colonization in older adults and diagnostic yield of single versus paired noninvasive respiratory sampling

Abstract

The presence of Pneumocystis was assessed in oropharyngeal wash specimens from 110 adults (median age, 76 years; age range, 69–95 years), 66 of whom had a paired nasal swab specimen. Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA was detected in 12.8% of oropharyngeal wash specimens, and the frequency increased to 21.5% in paired specimens. Pneumocystis colonization is prevalent in older adults. Double noninvasive sampling increases the diagnostic yield.