What is "pentamidine"

n. An antimicrobial medication used to prevent or treat pneumocystosis.

Pentamidine (formulated as a salt, pentamidine di isethionate or di mesilate) is an antimicrobial medication given for prevention and treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii), a severe interstitial type of pneumonia often seen in patients with HIV infection. The drug is also the mainstay of treatment for stage I infection with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (West African trypanosomiasis).

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medications needed in a basic health system.