Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

noun

Pneu·​mo·​cys·​tis ca·​ri·​nii pneumonia ˌnü-mə-ˈsi-stəs-kə-ˈrī-nē-ˌē- How to pronounce Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (audio)
ˌnyü-
: a pneumonia chiefly affecting immunocompromised individuals that is caused by a microorganism (Pneumocystis carinii synonym P. jiroveci), attacks especially the interstitial and alveolar tissues of the lungs, and is characterized especially by a nonproductive cough, shortness of breath, and fever
abbreviation PCP

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Pneumocystis carinii, species name

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

pneumoconiosis

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

pneumodynamic

Cite this Entry

“Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pneumocystis%20carinii%20pneumonia. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

noun
Pneumocystis ca·​ri·​nii pneumonia -kə-ˈrī-nē-ˌē- How to pronounce Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (audio)
: a pneumonia chiefly affecting immunocompromised individuals that is caused by a microorganism of the genus Pneumocystis (P. carinii) which shows up in specially stained preparations of fresh infected lung tissue as cysts containing six to eight oval bodies, that attacks especially the interstitial and alveolar tissues of the lungs, and that is characterized especially by a nonproductive cough, shortness of breath, and fever
abbreviation PCP

called also pneumocystic pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis

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