Definition

Noun: A specific, serious type of lung infection (pneumonia) caused by the microorganism Pneumocystis jirovecii. It primarily affects individuals with severely weakened immune systems.

Usage

This term is used in medical contexts to diagnose and describe a serious opportunistic infection. * The patient was diagnosed with pneumocystis pneumonia. * Prophylactic medication is often prescribed to prevent pneumocystis pneumonia in high-risk groups.

Advanced Usage

• Abbreviation (PCP): The condition is almost universally abbreviated to PCP in clinical settings, stemming from its former name ( pneumonia).
  • The lab results confirmed it was PCP.
• As a defining illness: It is historically significant as a common AIDS-defining illness.
  • The presentation of pneumocystis pneumonia was a key indicator for an AIDS diagnosis.

Variants and Related Words

• PCP: The standard abbreviation.
• Pneumocystis jirovecii: The name of the fungal organism that causes the pneumonia.

Synonyms

• PCP (the standard synonym in medical use)
• Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (the more precise modern term)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers exclusively to the pneumonia caused by the Pneumocystis organism. It is not a general term for pneumonia and implies an underlying cause of immune deficiency.

Noun

1. pneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systems (as AIDS victims)