a pulmonary infection caused by the protozoan Pneumocystis carinii, occurring as an opportunistic disease in persons with impaired immune systems, as AIDS victims.
Abbreviation: PCP.
Also called pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
[kuh-rahy-nee-ahy] /kəˈraɪ niˌaɪ/ (Show IPA).
Origin
1980-85;pneumocystis < Neo-Latin: genus name; see pneumo-, cyst