Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is most likely to occur in which group?

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Multiple Choice

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is most likely to occur in which group?

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a classic opportunistic infection that takes hold when the immune system is severely weakened, especially with loss of CD4+ T cells as seen in AIDS. Because of this profound immunosuppression, Pneumocystis can proliferate in the lungs and cause a diffuse interstitial pneumonia with symptoms like progressive shortness of breath, dry cough, and fever. Among the groups listed, people with AIDS are at far higher risk than the others, since their cell-mediated immunity is dramatically reduced. The other groups don’t have the same level of T-cell–mediated immune compromise, so they’re much less likely to develop this specific opportunistic infection.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a classic opportunistic infection that takes hold when the immune system is severely weakened, especially with loss of CD4+ T cells as seen in AIDS. Because of this profound immunosuppression, Pneumocystis can proliferate in the lungs and cause a diffuse interstitial pneumonia with symptoms like progressive shortness of breath, dry cough, and fever. Among the groups listed, people with AIDS are at far higher risk than the others, since their cell-mediated immunity is dramatically reduced. The other groups don’t have the same level of T-cell–mediated immune compromise, so they’re much less likely to develop this specific opportunistic infection.

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