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