Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

noun

Pneu·​mo·​cys·​tis ca·​ri·​nii pneumonia ˌnü-mə-ˈsi-stəs-kə-ˈrī-nē-ˌē- 

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

Medical Definition

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

noun

Pneumocystis ca·​ri·​nii pneumonia -kə-ˈrī-nē-ˌē- 

: 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