Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Opportunistic infection
Introduction
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Overview
Overview
An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens, particularly opportunistic pathogens – those that take advantage of certain situations – such as bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoan infections that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host, one with a healthy immune system. A compromised immune system, however, presents an “opportunity” for the pathogen to infect.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Treatment depends upon the type of opportunistic infection, but usually involves different antibiotics. Opportunistic infections caused by Feline leukemia virus andFeline immunodeficiency virus retroviral infections can be treated with lymphocyte T-cell immune modulator.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Historical Perspective
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Classification
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Pathophysiology
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Causes
Causes
Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression can be caused by:
- Malnutrition
- Fatigue
- Recurrent infections
- Immunosuppressing agents for organ transplant recipients
- Advanced HIV infection
- Chemotherapy for cancer
- Genetic predisposition
- Skin damage
- Antibiotic treatment
- Medical procedures
- Pregnancy
Causative organisms include:
- Acinetobacter baumanni
- Aspergillus sp.
- Candida albicans
- Clostridium difficile
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Cryptosporidium
- Cytomegalovirus
- Geomyces destructans
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Isospora belli
- Polyomavirus JC polyomavirus, the virus that causes Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
- Kaposi’s Sarcoma caused by Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also called Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
- Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionella pneumophila)
- Microsporidium
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) (Nontuberculosis Mycobacterium)
- Pneumocystis jirovecii, previously known as Pneumocystis carinii f. hominis
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Toxoplasma gondii
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Differentiating Opportunistic Infection from other Diseases
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Epidemiology and Demographics
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Risk Factors
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Screening
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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
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Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Chest X Ray | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]