期刊名称:Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine
印刷版ISSN:2474-1949
出版年度:2019
卷号:4
期号:2
页码:1-3
DOI:10.21980/J8RW6N
出版社:University of California Press
摘要:History of present illness: A 62-year-old male with a past medical history of untreated human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented to the emergency department with one month of shortness of
breath, non-productive cough, and fevers. He had been seen by an outpatient provider and was given
amoxicillin, though his symptoms did not improve.
His vital signsincluded a temperature of 102°F, heart rate of 108 beats/min, BP 90/60 mm Hg, and an oxygen
saturation of 60% on room air. He was placed on 15L non-rebreather mask with improvement in saturation
to 97%. His exam showed tachypnea with normal breath sounds.
Labs showed a white blood cell count of 8.4 x 1000/mm3 without bands, complete metabolic panel
remarkable only for a total bilirubin of 3.0, and a lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) of 444. Lactate was normal.
Significant findings: Chest X-ray showed diffuse, patchy interstitial and alveolar infiltrates bilaterally
concerning for Pneumocystis jirovecii (previously Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (PJP). The AP radiograph
(top left figure)showed the classic “bat-wing” distribution on the leftside. Repeat radiograph (bottom figure)
one day after admission showed worsening of the infiltrates.
Discussion: Pneumocystisjirovecii pneumonia is most common in HIV patients with CD4 countslessthan 200.
Physical exam findings include crackles and rhonchi; however, 50% of presentations include benign
pulmonary exams.1 On chest radiograph, the most common findings are diffuse bilateral interstitial
infiltrates. In one study, 25% of radiographs showed alveolar or mixed interstitial-alveolar patterns, and 10%
of radiographs included localized infiltrates, hilar enlargement, cysts, or honeycombing.2 In other studies of
patients with mild to moderate PJP, 39% of radiographs were normal.3 After diagnosis is made or ifsuspicion
for PJP is high, standard treatment is sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (TMP-SMX) 15-20 mg/kg/day TID or
QID. Prednisone 40 mg BID is added to the TMP-SMX if the patient’s A-a gradient is higher than 35, or if the
PO2 is less than 70 mmHg on room air.4,5 After finishing treatment, prophylactic TMP-SMX should be given
to all patients with CD4 counts less than 200 to prevent future recurrence until their CD4 counts recover on
highly active antiretroviral therapy.
This patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for hypoxic respiratory distress and pneumonia. He was
started on vancomycin and cefepime; TMP-SMX and corticosteroids were added for presumed PJP. Diagnosis
was later confirmed and the patient eventually made a full recovery.