Molecular Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in diabetic Patients with respiratory disorder at Emam Reza Hospitals, Mashhad.

Pneumocystosis is fungal pulmonary disease due to Pneumocystis jirovecii (JP).The infection is mostly seen in immunosupressed patients and those individuals with decreased immunity. The aim of this study was to identify JP infection among the diabetic patients hospitalized due to any chronic pulmonary disorder and had indication of Broncho-alveolar Lavage (BAL). BAL samples of all 16 diabetic patients with pulmonary disorder were obtained by pulmonary disease specialist and transferred under proper conditions to Mycology Lab. The samples centrifuged and kept in the refrigerator in order to do DNA extraction and Nested- PCR examination. of the total 16 samples obtained from hospitalized diabetic 3 samples (18.8%) were positive for PJ PCR test. Of 3 patients, 2 were males and 1 was female. High blood sugar can lead to dysfunction of the immune system which also reduces the power of the immune system, Therefore, diabetic patients with pulmonary disorder should be considered as a source of PJ and candidate for pneumocystosis.