Opportunistic infection
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An opportunistic infection is an infection 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] 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. Kaposi's Sarcoma
[edit] Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of opportunistic infection, but usually involves different antibiotics.
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