Primary-Pneumocystis Infection: Pneumocystis Jirovecii Detection in Nasopharyngeal Aspirates From Symptomatic Infants

It is recognized that primary infection with Pneumocystis, an opportunistic and transmissible fungus, occurs early in childhood. Early investigations of primary infection considering the detection of P. jirovecii in respiratory specimens suggests that primary infection in infants without immunodeficiency could be either asymptomatic or symptomatic. The infection may be identified as an apparently benign respiratory infection evolving on its own, but may also be contemporaneous with another viral or bacterial respiratory infection. In addition, there are little data available on the genotypic characteristics of P. jirovecii in infants developing primary infection.

In this context, the project will focus on the detection of P. jirovecii in hospitalized infants, presented with symptoms, and without overt immunodeficiency. The prospective collection of biological, clinical and epidemiological data in these infants will make it possible to identify risk factors for the acquisition of the fungus and to address its role in symptoms and clinical presentation. A second focus will be on the identification and comparison of genotypes in infants developing primary infection and in immunocompromised adults developing PPC or colonized by the fungus. These two approaches are the necessary steps to address the putative role of these patient populations (infants and adults) in the human reservoir of the fungus. A third focus will be the detection and genotypic identification of P. jirovecii in infants and the exhaled air of infants in their environment. The potential role of infants as potential infectious sources may be determined.