[Diagnostic strategies of pulmonary pneumocystis infection in patients with HIV infection. Decision analysis and medico-economic consequences].

P. carinii pneumonia is one of the most frequent opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients. Clinical and radiological manifestations are non-specific and reference diagnostic procedure remains broncho-alveolar lavage which is costly and invasive. Alternative diagnostic strategies have been proposed. We report here our experience as well as literature date in this field with the purpose to show the usefulness of decision analysis techniques in choosing an optimal cost-effective strategy.