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Opportunistic infection

MedGen UID:
18177
•Concept ID:
C0029118
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Infection, Opportunistic; Infections, Opportunistic; Opportunistic Infection; Opportunistic Infections
SNOMED CT: Opportunistic infectious disease (61274003)
 
HPO: HP:0031690

Definition

An infection that is caused by a pathogen that would generally not be able to cause an infection in a host with a normal immune system. Such pathogens take advantage of the opportunity, so to speak, that is provided by a weakened immune system. [from HPO]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Postextraction Mucormycosis in Immunocompromised-Patient Management and Review of Literature.
Emodi O, Ohayon C, Bilder A, Capucha T, Wolff A, Rachmiel A
J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2021 Jul;79(7):1482-1491. Epub 2021 Jan 25 doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2021.01.019. PMID: 33617788
Revised Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma International Consensus Meeting Report.
Cook LB, Fuji S, Hermine O, Bazarbachi A, Ramos JC, Ratner L, Horwitz S, Fields P, Tanase A, Bumbea H, Cwynarski K, Taylor G, Waldmann TA, Bittencourt A, Marcais A, Suarez F, Sibon D, Phillips A, Lunning M, Farid R, Imaizumi Y, Choi I, Ishida T, Ishitsuka K, Fukushima T, Uchimaru K, Takaori-Kondo A, Tokura Y, Utsunomiya A, Matsuoka M, Tsukasaki K, Watanabe T
J Clin Oncol 2019 Mar 10;37(8):677-687. Epub 2019 Jan 18 doi: 10.1200/JCO.18.00501. PMID: 30657736Free PMC Article
HIV-associated opportunistic CNS infections: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.
Bowen LN, Smith B, Reich D, Quezado M, Nath A
Nat Rev Neurol 2016 Oct 27;12(11):662-674. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2016.149. PMID: 27786246

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Immunosuppressive Agents and Infectious Risk in Transplantation: Managing the "Net State of Immunosuppression".
Roberts MB, Fishman JA
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Oct 5;73(7):e1302-e1317. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1189. PMID: 32803228Free PMC Article
Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Clinical Updates, Challenges and Future Directions.
Razonable RR
Curr Pharm Des 2020;26(28):3497-3506. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200531152901. PMID: 32473617
Tuberculosis and Biologic Therapies: Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Beyond.
Godfrey MS, Friedman LN
Clin Chest Med 2019 Dec;40(4):721-739. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2019.07.003. PMID: 31731980
Nocardia infections in solid organ transplantation: Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation.
Restrepo A, Clark NM; Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation
Clin Transplant 2019 Sep;33(9):e13509. Epub 2019 Mar 19 doi: 10.1111/ctr.13509. PMID: 30817024
Oral candidiasis.
Akpan A, Morgan R
Postgrad Med J 2002 Aug;78(922):455-9. doi: 10.1136/pmj.78.922.455. PMID: 12185216Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Clinical Updates, Challenges and Future Directions.
Razonable RR
Curr Pharm Des 2020;26(28):3497-3506. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200531152901. PMID: 32473617
Nocardia infections in solid organ transplantation: Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation.
Restrepo A, Clark NM; Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation
Clin Transplant 2019 Sep;33(9):e13509. Epub 2019 Mar 19 doi: 10.1111/ctr.13509. PMID: 30817024
Opportunistic Oral Infections.
Sedghizadeh PP, Mahabady S, Allen CM
Dent Clin North Am 2017 Apr;61(2):389-400. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2016.12.007. PMID: 28317572Free PMC Article
Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia.
Catherinot E, Lanternier F, Bougnoux ME, Lecuit M, Couderc LJ, Lortholary O
Infect Dis Clin North Am 2010 Mar;24(1):107-38. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2009.10.010. PMID: 20171548
Oral candidiasis.
Akpan A, Morgan R
Postgrad Med J 2002 Aug;78(922):455-9. doi: 10.1136/pmj.78.922.455. PMID: 12185216Free PMC Article

Therapy

Mirikizumab as Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis.
D'Haens G, Dubinsky M, Kobayashi T, Irving PM, Howaldt S, Pokrotnieks J, Krueger K, Laskowski J, Li X, Lissoos T, Milata J, Morris N, Arora V, Milch C, Sandborn W, Sands BE; LUCENT Study Group
N Engl J Med 2023 Jun 29;388(26):2444-2455. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2207940. PMID: 37379135
Immunosuppressive Agents and Infectious Risk in Transplantation: Managing the "Net State of Immunosuppression".
Roberts MB, Fishman JA
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Oct 5;73(7):e1302-e1317. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1189. PMID: 32803228Free PMC Article
Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Clinical Updates, Challenges and Future Directions.
Razonable RR
Curr Pharm Des 2020;26(28):3497-3506. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200531152901. PMID: 32473617
Nocardia infections in solid organ transplantation: Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation.
Restrepo A, Clark NM; Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation
Clin Transplant 2019 Sep;33(9):e13509. Epub 2019 Mar 19 doi: 10.1111/ctr.13509. PMID: 30817024
Oral candidiasis.
Akpan A, Morgan R
Postgrad Med J 2002 Aug;78(922):455-9. doi: 10.1136/pmj.78.922.455. PMID: 12185216Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression.
Torres LK, Pickkers P, van der Poll T
Annu Rev Physiol 2022 Feb 10;84:157-181. Epub 2021 Oct 27 doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-061121-040214. PMID: 34705481
Risk of Serious Infection, Opportunistic Infection, and Herpes Zoster among Patients with Psoriasis in the United Kingdom.
Takeshita J, Shin DB, Ogdie A, Gelfand JM
J Invest Dermatol 2018 Aug;138(8):1726-1735. Epub 2018 Mar 2 doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.039. PMID: 29505759Free PMC Article
The Threat of Aerobic Vaginitis to Pregnancy and Neonatal Morbidity.
Kaambo E, Africa CWJ
Afr J Reprod Health 2017 Jun;21(2):108-118. PMID: 29624945
From the classic concepts to modern practice.
Fishman JA
Clin Microbiol Infect 2014 Sep;20 Suppl 7:4-9. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12593. PMID: 24528498
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
Schliep TC, Yarrish RL
Semin Respir Infect 1999 Dec;14(4):333-43. PMID: 10638513

Clinical prediction guides

Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression.
Torres LK, Pickkers P, van der Poll T
Annu Rev Physiol 2022 Feb 10;84:157-181. Epub 2021 Oct 27 doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-061121-040214. PMID: 34705481
Molecular diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.
Guegan H, Robert-Gangneux F
Curr Opin Infect Dis 2019 Aug;32(4):314-321. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000559. PMID: 31107250
Biological Markers for Pulpal Inflammation: A Systematic Review.
Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA
PLoS One 2016;11(11):e0167289. Epub 2016 Nov 29 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167289. PMID: 27898727Free PMC Article
Neoplastic pericardial effusion.
Refaat MM, Katz WE
Clin Cardiol 2011 Oct;34(10):593-8. Epub 2011 Sep 16 doi: 10.1002/clc.20936. PMID: 21928406Free PMC Article
Pulmonary cryptococcosis.
Patz EF Jr, Goodman PC
J Thorac Imaging 1992 Sep;7(4):51-5. doi: 10.1097/00005382-199209000-00008. PMID: 1404545

Recent systematic reviews

Non-invasive diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Senécal J, Smyth E, Del Corpo O, Hsu JM, Amar-Zifkin A, Bergeron A, Cheng MP, Butler-Laporte G, McDonald EG, Lee TC
Clin Microbiol Infect 2022 Jan;28(1):23-30. Epub 2021 Aug 28 doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.08.017. PMID: 34464734
How do I manage nocardiosis?
Margalit I, Lebeaux D, Tishler O, Goldberg E, Bishara J, Yahav D, Coussement J
Clin Microbiol Infect 2021 Apr;27(4):550-558. Epub 2021 Jan 5 doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.12.019. PMID: 33418019
Risk-Based Estimate of Human Fungal Disease Burden, China.
Zhou LH, Jiang YK, Li RY, Huang LP, Yip CW, Denning DW, Zhu LP
Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Sep;26(9):2137-2147. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.200016. PMID: 32818410Free PMC Article
Diagnostic accuracy of serum (1-3)-β-D-glucan for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Del Corpo O, Butler-Laporte G, Sheppard DC, Cheng MP, McDonald EG, Lee TC
Clin Microbiol Infect 2020 Sep;26(9):1137-1143. Epub 2020 May 30 doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.05.024. PMID: 32479781
Biological Markers for Pulpal Inflammation: A Systematic Review.
Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA
PLoS One 2016;11(11):e0167289. Epub 2016 Nov 29 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167289. PMID: 27898727Free PMC Article

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