Opportunistic infection

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Opportunistic infections are infections caused by pathogens that usually do not cause disease in a healthy immune system. A compromised immune system, however, presents an "opportunity" for the pathogen to infect.

Causes

Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression can be caused by:
  • Malnutrition
  • Recurrent infections
  • Immunosuppressing agents for organ transplant recipients
  • Chemotherapy for cancer
  • AIDS or HIV-infection
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Skin damage
  • Antibiotic treatment
  • Medical procedures

    • Types of infections

    These infections include:
  • Pneumocystis jirovecii, previously known as Pneumocystis carinii f. hominis
  • Candida albicans
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Acinetobacter baumanni
  • Toxoplasma gondii
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Aspergillus sp.
  • Kaposis Sarcoma''

    • Treatment

    Treatment depends on the type of opportunistic infection, but usually involves different antibiotics.

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