Therapy and prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Pentamidine isethionate and sulfadoxine plus pyrimethamine are excellent therapeutic agents in experimental and hypoergic, hypoimmune pneumocystosis as well as in focal interstitial plasma cell pneumonia (IPCP) in infants. Their effectiveness is seriously limited in cases in which either a diffuse massive plasma cell exudate has been established or in adults in whom the phagocytic and resorptive facility is depressed. Infantile pneumocystosis leading to IPCP can be completely prevented by proper feeding and care of the patient or prophylactic drug therapy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Similar measures should be taken for adult patients at risk in hospitals where pneumocystosis is frequent or when pneumocystosis has been recently diagnosed.