Opportunistic Infection Overview

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. 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 ,...