[Prevention of pneumocystosis with pentamidine aerosols]

In patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection primary or secondary prevention of pulmonary pneumocystosis sometimes fails, resulting in atypical or extrarespiratory pneumocystosis. From the series found in the literature and from our own experience, it appears that such failures depend on the way aerosols are administered: they are usually due to low dosage, intervals of more than 2 weeks between aerosols, excessive particle size or poor patient's compliance. We suggest that pentamidine mesylate or isethionate should be administered forthnightly in doses of 4 mg/kg bodyweight, using an inhaler capable of delivering particles of less than 2 micrometers in diameter.