Journal of infectious diseases and diagnosis is an open access rapid peer reviewed journal in the field of Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Diseases. It is a bimonthly journal.

An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available. These opportunities can stem from a variety of sources, such as a weakened immune system that can occur in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or when being treated with immunosuppressive drugs, as in cancer treatment, an altered microbiome such as a disruption in gut microbiota, or breached integumentary barriers (as in penetrating trauma). Many of these pathogens do not cause disease in a healthy host that has a non-compromised immune system, and can, in some cases, act as commensals until the balance of the immune system is disrupted. Opportunistic infections can also be attributed to pathogens that cause mild illness in healthy individuals but lead to more serious illness when given the opportunity to take advantage of an immune-compromised host.

Types of Opportunistic Infections

Wide varieties of pathogens are involved in opportunistic infection and can cause a similarly wide range in pathologies. A partial list of opportunistic pathogens and their associated presentations includes:

Bacteria

Clostridioides difficile (formerly known as Clostridium difficile) is a species of bacteria that is known to cause gastrointestinal infection and is typically associated with the hospital setting.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a group of two bacteria, M. avium and M. intracellulare, that typically co-infect, leading to a lung infection called mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that can cause respiratory infections. It is frequently associated with cystic fibrosis and hospital-acquired infections.

Fungi

Candida albicans is a species of fungus that is associated with oral thrush and gastrointestinal infection.

Coccidioides immitis is a fungus known for causing Coccidioidomycosis, more commonly known as Valley Fever.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a species of fungus known to cause histoplasmosis, which can present with an array of symptoms, but often involves respiratory infection.

Viruses

Cytomegalovirus is a family of opportunistic viruses, most frequently associated with respiratory infection.

Human Polyomavirus 2 is known to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Human herpesvirus 8 or Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus is a virus associated with Kaposi sarcoma, a type of cancer.

Opportunistic Infection and HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that targets T cells of the immune system and, as a result, HIV infection can lead to progressively worsening immunodeficiency, a condition ideal for the development of opportunistic infection. Because of this, respiratory and central nervous system opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis and meningitis, respectively, are associated with later-stage HIV infection, as are numerous other infectious pathologies.  As immune function declines and HIV-infection progresses to AIDS, individuals are at an increased risk of opportunistic infections that their immune systems are no longer capable of responding properly to. Journal of infectious diseases and diagnosis announces papers for the upcoming issue. Interested can submit their manuscript through online portal.

Submit manuscript at http://www.longdom.org/submissions/infectious-diseases-diagnosis.html or send as an e-mail attachment to the Editorial Office at editor.jidd@longdomjournal.org

Media contact:

Eliza Grace

Managing Editor

Journal of Infectious Diseases and Diagnosis

Mail ID: editor.jidd@longdomjournal.org