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| {{CMG}} | | {{CMG}} |
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| ==Overview==
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| An '''opportunistic infection''' is an infection caused by [[pathogen]]s, particularly [[Opportunism|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 [[Immunodeficiency|compromised immune system]], however, presents an "opportunity" for the pathogen to infect.
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| ==Causes==
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| Immunodeficiency or [[immunosuppression]] can be caused by:
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| * [[Malnutrition]]
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| * [[Fatigue_(medical)|Fatigue]]
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| * Recurrent [[infection]]s
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| * [[Immunosuppressive drug|Immunosuppressing agents]] for [[organ transplant]] recipients
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| * Advanced [[HIV]] infection
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| * [[Chemotherapy]] for [[cancer]]
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| * [[genetics|Genetic]] predisposition
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| * [[Skin]] damage
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| * [[Antibiotic]] treatment
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| * Medical procedures
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| * Pregnancy
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| ==Types of infections==
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| {{See|Immunodeficiency}}
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| These infections include:
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| * ''[[Acinetobacter baumanni]]''
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| * ''[[Aspergillus]]'' sp.
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| * ''[[Candida albicans]]''
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| * ''[[Clostridium difficile]]''
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| * ''[[Cryptococcus neoformans]]''
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| * ''[[Cryptosporidium]]''
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| * ''[[Cytomegalovirus]]''
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| * ''[[Geomyces destructans]]''
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| * ''[[Histoplasma capsulatum]]''
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| * ''[[Isospora belli]]''
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| * ''[[JC virus|Polyomavirus JC polyomavirus]]'', the virus that causes [[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy]].
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| * ''[[Kaposi's Sarcoma]] caused by [[Human herpesvirus 8]] (HHV8)'', also called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
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| * ''[[Legionellosis|Legionnaires' Disease (Legionella pneumophila)]]''
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| * ''[[Microsporidium]]''
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| * ''[[Mycobacterium avium complex]] (MAC) (Nontuberculosis Mycobacterium)''
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| * [[Pneumocystis pneumonia|''Pneumocystis jirovecii'']], previously known as ''[[Pneumocystis carinii]]'' f. ''[[hominis]]''
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| * ''[[Pseudomonas aeruginosa]]''
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| * ''[[Staphylococcus aureus]]''
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| * ''[[Streptococcus pneumoniae]]''
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| * ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]''
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| * ''[[Toxoplasma gondii]]''
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| ==Treatment==
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| Treatment depends on the type of opportunistic infection, but usually involves different [[antibiotic]]s.
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| ==Veterinary treatment==
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| Opportunistic infections caused by [[Feline Leukemia Virus]] and [[Feline immunodeficiency virus]] [[retroviral]] infections can be treated with [[Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator]].
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
