pneumocystové

Pneumocystové refers to Pneumocystis, a genus of fungi. The most clinically significant species is Pneumocystis jirovecii, which is an obligate pathogen in humans. Before its identification as a fungus, it was mistakenly classified as a protozoan, leading to the common misspelling and misclassification as "pneumocystové" which is the Czech word for Pneumocystis.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a common organism found in the environment and typically colonizes the lungs of healthy individuals without causing illness. However, in immunocompromised individuals, it can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening pneumonia known as Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). PCP is particularly prevalent in people with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ transplantation, or the use of immunosuppressive medications.

The transmission of Pneumocystis jirovecii is thought to occur through airborne droplets. Symptoms of PCP include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical presentation, imaging studies like chest X-rays or CT scans, and laboratory tests, frequently including microscopic examination of respiratory samples or molecular detection methods. Treatment typically involves antimicrobial medications, most commonly trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Prophylaxis is also used in individuals at high risk of developing PCP to prevent infection.