MODEL RELEASED. Pentamidine AIDS therapy. A female AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) patient uses a pentamidine inhaler. Pentamidine is used to fight pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii, which is a rare and opportunistic bacterial pathogen. P. carinii is the commonest cause of pneumonia in patients that are in the advanced stages of AIDS. Pentamidine is a dangerous medication which causes extremely low blood pressure (hypotension) immediately after use. Using an inhaler reduces it's numerous side effects. Photographed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.