Opportunistic infection overview

Opportunistic infection Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens, particularly 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. Acompromised immune system, however, presents an "opportunity" for the pathogen to infect.