Recommendations for adjunctive corticosteroids in patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia
| Patient population | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| HIV-positive WITH baseline hypoxemia | Strong recommendation that adjunctive corticosteroids improve outcomes with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia treatment |
| HIV-positive WITHOUT baseline hypoxemia | Steroids should be considered if respiratory status worsens after Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia treatment is started |
| HIV-negative WITH hypoxemia or respiratory failure | Steroids should be considered—evidence is unclear |
| HIV-negative WITH mild to moderate respiratory disease | Steroids should not be given routinely and may result in worse outcomes |
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus
Based on information in references 5–13.