Diagnóstico de neumocistosis en pacientes oncológicos por la técnica de inmunofluorescencia directa

the patient with malignancy disease has a high risk to develop respiratory infections for pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. investigations about pneumocystosis in oncological patients in venezuela are scarce. the objective of this work was to detect pneumocystis jirovecii in oncological patients by the method of direct immunofluorescence technique. thirty one respiratory specimens (bronchoalveolar lavage, spontaneous and induced sputum, and tracheal aspirates) received in 10 months, 8 specimens of them (25.5) were positive the distribution by malignancy disease was the following: 18 solid tumors, and 13 leukemias, and lymphomas. no statistically significant differences were found between the studied groups and positive results (p>0.05). the complementary laboratory tests, related to the presence of pneumocystis, were not statistically significant either p>0.05). is necessary to include this diagnosis in the microbiological differential study of low respiratory tract infections in oncological patients, since these patients show unspecific symptoms, and have a high possibility to develop pneumocystosis.