An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by 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.

Contents

• 1 Causes
• 2 Types of infections
• 3 Treatment
• 4 Veterinary treatment

Causes

Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression can be caused by:

• Malnutrition
• Recurrent infections
• Immunosuppressing agents for organ transplant recipients
• Chemotherapy for cancer
• Genetic predisposition
• Skin damage
• Antibiotic treatment
• Medical procedures
• Pregnancy
• AIDS