Abstract
51 patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia underwent sputum induction. Sputum specimens from 18 patients were positive for P carinii and patients were treated appropriately. 25 of the 33 patients with negative specimens underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage within 4 days of sputum induction, only 1 of whom had evidence of Pneumocystis infection. For diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, sputum induction according to a strict protocol had a sensitivity of 94·7% and a negative predictive value of 96%, compared with bronchoalveolar lavage.
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