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Home / Publications / It is still PCP that can stand for Pneumocystis pneumonia: Appeal for generalized use of only one acronym

It is still PCP that can stand for Pneumocystis pneumonia: Appeal for generalized use of only one acronym

  • Authors: Gilles Nevez, Anne Totet, Olga Matos, Enrique J Calderon, Robert F Miller, Solène Le Gal
  • Publication Year: 2021
  • Journal: Mycology, 59(8), pp 842-844
  • Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myab024

ABSTRACT

Twenty-years ago, considering the host specificity of Pneumocystis species, the human-derived Pneumocystis, Pneumocystis carinii formae specialis hominis, was renamed Pneumocystis jirovecii. Pneumocystis carinii formae specialis carinii was finally renamed Pneumocystis carinii and kept for the species derived from Rattus norvegicus. P. jirovecii is now widely used by most authors. The PCP acronym that initially referred to “Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia” was contemporaneously redefined to stand for Pneumocystis pneumonia in order to avoid changing the acronym of the name of the disease that clinicians have used for several decades. Using analysis of multidata bases on PubMed, we have noted a recent acceleration in the use of PJP for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, which may be grammatically correct but not in accordance with retaining PCP, which was proposed in the early 2000s. Through this reminder, in order to standardize the literature on P. jirovecii, we plead for the use of only one acronym, PCP.

LAY SUMMARY

Through this reminder on Pneumocystis nomenclature, we plead for the use of only one acronym, PCP, the retention of which was proposed in the early 2000s, and which currently stands for Pneumocystis pneumonia.

KEYWORDS

Pneumocystis jirovecii; Pneumocystis pneumonia; PCP.

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About GHTM

GHTM is a R&D Unit that brings together researchers with a track record in Tropical Medicine and International & Global Health. It aims at strengthening Portugal's role as a leading partner in the development and implementation of a global health research agenda. Our evidence-based interventions contribute to the promotion of equity in health and to improve the health of populations.

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