OPPORTUNISTIC_INFECTION

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'Opportunistic infections' are infections caused by organisms that usually do not cause disease in a person with a healthy immune system, but can affect people with a poorly functioning or suppressed immune system. They need an "opportunity" to infect a person.

Contents

Causes

Types of infections

Treatment

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.

Treatment

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