[Pneumocystis pneumonia biological diagnosis at Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar, Senegal]

Abstract

Background: Data relative to Pneumocystis pneumonia in sub-Saharan Africa are not well known. Weakness of the technical material and use of little sensitive biological tools of diagnosis are among the evoked reasons. The objective of this study is to update the data of the disease at the Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar and to estimate biological methods used in diagnosis.

Materials and methods: A descriptive longitudinal study was carried out from January 5th, 2009 to October 31st, 2011 in the parasitology and mycology laboratory of the Fann Teaching Hospital in Dakar. The bronchoalveolar lavages received in the laboratory were examined microscopically for Pneumocystis jirovecii by indirect fluorescent assay or after Giemsa or toluidine blue O staining.

Results: One hundred and eighty-three bronchoalveolar lavages withdrawn from 183 patients were received in the laboratory. Sixteen were positive for P. jirovecii at 9% frequency. Four among these patients were HIV positive. Indirect fluorescent assay allowed finding of P. jirovecii among 16 patients while Giemsa staining discovered P. jirovecii only in a single patient. No case was diagnosed by toluidine blue O staining.

Conclusion: Pneumocystis pneumonia in Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory of Fann Teaching Hospital at Dakar was mainly diagnosed among HIV patients.

Keywords: Bleu de toluidine O; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Giemsa; Immunofluorescence indirecte; Indirect fluorescent assay; Lavage broncho-alvéolaire; Pneumocystis pneumonia; Pneumonie à Pneumocystis; Toluidine blue O.