Abstract: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia may be prevented in a subject susceptible to infection by Pneumocystis carinii by administering to the subject an amount of a pentamidine in aerosol form effective to prevent infection by Pneumocystis carinii and thus prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Also, this invention provides a composition for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia which comprises an amount of a pentamidine effective to prevent infection by Pneumocystis carinii and thus prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in aerosol form and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of preventing a pulmonary infection by a fungus in a subject susceptible to infection by the fungus comprising administering to the subject an amount per dose in an aerosol spray of a polyene or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, effective to prevent pulmonary infection by the fungus. This invention further discloses a method of treating pulmonary aspergillosis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount per dose in an aerosol spray of a polyene, e.g., amphotericin B or pimaricin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof effective to treat aspergillosis.