Pentamidine clinical use

Aerosol pentamidine (once monthly) can be used in primary and secondary prophylaxis of P jiroveci pneumonia, although oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) is usually preferred. Daily intravenous or intramuscular administration of the drug for 21 d is needed in the treatment of active pneumocystosis in the HIV-infected patient. Pentamidine is also used in trypanosomiasis.