Opportunistic infection

An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens, particularly opportunistic pathogens (bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoan) that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host, i.e. one with 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
 * Advanced HIV infection
 * Chemotherapy for cancer
 * Genetic predisposition
 * Skin damage
 * Antibiotic treatment
 * Medical procedures
 * Pregnancy

Types of infections
These infections include:


 * Acinetobacter baumanni
 * Aspergillus sp.
 * Candida albicans
 * Clostridium difficile
 * Cryptococcus neoformans
 * Cryptosporidium
 * Cytomegalovirus
 * 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)
 * Microsporidium
 * Pneumocystis jirovecii, previously known as Pneumocystis carinii f. hominis
 * Pseudomonas aeruginosa
 * Staphylococcus aureus
 * Streptococcus pyogenes
 * Toxoplasma gondii

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

Veterinary treatment
Opportunistic infections caused by Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline immunodeficiency virus retroviral infections can be treated with Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator.

عدوى انتهازية Oportunistička infekcija Oportunní infekce Opportunistischer Erreger Ευκαιριακή λοίμωξη Infección oportunista Maladie opportuniste Infeksi oportunistik Tækifærissýking Infezione opportunistica Opportunistische infectie 日和見感染 Zakażenie oportunistyczne Doença oportunista Оппортунистические заболевания Opportunistisk infektion தருணத் தொற்று Опортуністична інфекція