Pneumocystic pneumonia
This specific microorganism species causes PCP.
What is Pneumocystis jirovecii?
This specific microorganism species most commonly causes cryptococcal disease.
What is cryptococcus neoformans?
This specific microorganism species causes toxoplasmosis.
What is Toxoplasma gondii?
These two specific microorganisms species make up the MAC.
(HINT: One of them is in the name!)
What are Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare?
90% of PCP cases occur in patients with a CD4+ count less than this value.
What is 200 cells/mm3?
This disease occurs due to cryptococcal infection in individuals with HIV/AIDS or those who are otherwise immunocompromised.
What is meningitis?
Bonus: Are the symptoms indolent or fulminant?
Toxoplasma causes significant disease in this organ system (only in immunocompromised individuals).
What is the CNS?
Bonus: What classic finding do brain CT or MRI images show in patients with toxoplasmosis?
CD4+ count must be less than this number to get a disseminated MAC infection (other aspects of clinical presentation are non-specific).
What is 50 cells/mm3?
This is the most sensitive test for diagnosing PCP.
What is bronchoscopy with BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage)?
This clinical presentation is a cause for concern in patients with cyrptococcal meningitis and is associated with >90% of deaths from the disease.
What is elevated intracranial pressure?
Patients with toxoplasmosis are seropositive for this class of antibodies from two weeks of infection through the rest of their lives.
What is IgG?
In 90% of patients, diagnosis of MAC is made using this laboratory test.
What is a blood culture?
PCP is treated using this drug.
HINT: This drug is also used for community acquired-MRSA.
What is SMX-TMP (Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim)?
Initial treatment of cryptococcal meningitis involves combination therapy of these two drugs.
What are IV amphotericin B and oral flucytosine?
BONUS: What drug is an important component of maintenance therapy?
These three drugs make up the unique treatment regimen for toxoplasmosis encephalitis.
What are pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and leucovorin?
Treatment for a disseminated MAC infection includes these two drugs.
What are azithromycin and ethambutol?
BONUS: Is primary MAC prophylaxis necessary in the setting of HIV viral suppression?