Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) occurs in nearly 80% of patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim; and others), intravenous isethionate (Pentam 300) and other systemic drugs have been used to prevent PCP, but in AIDS patients, all of these agents can occasionally cause severe adverse effects (Medical Letter, 30:94, 1988). Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved marketing of aerosolized pentamidine isethionate (NebuPent - LyphoMed) for this indication. Another...

With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by parasites. The table in this document lists first-choice and alternative drugs for most parasitic infections.