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Post-COVID-19 severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a non-HIV and immunocompetent patient: A case report and literature review

Xu ZY, Ouyang W, Liu JL, Ye WJ, Xu F

The Journal of international medical research, 2025

Abstract

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a ubiquitous opportunistic fungus that can cause life-threatening pneumonia. The clinical manifestations of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and P. jirovecii are similar, posing a significant challenge in the diagnosis of P. jirovecii pneumonia or coronavirus disease 2019. Herein, we report a case of P. jirovecii pneumonia diagnosed through bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum smear analyses. The patient recovered successfully and was discharged following combination therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and corticosteroids. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are of vital importance in managing P. jirovecii pneumonia, particularly in individuals with related risk factors for P. jirovecii pneumonia development.

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