Opportunistic infections in patients with and patients without Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Apr 15;34(8):1098-107. doi: 10.1086/339548. Epub 2002 Mar 21.

Abstract

In the next decade, longer survival of patients with cancer and more-aggressive therapies applied to common conditions, such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, will result in a larger population with significant immune system defects. Many in this population will be at risk for opportunistic infections, which are familiar to doctors who have treated people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the epidemiology, presentation, and outcome of these infections in patients with an immune system defect, other than that caused by HIV infection, may be different than those encountered in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Reviewed are 4 common opportunistic infections: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptococcosis, atypical mycobacterial infection, and cytomegalovirus infection. Emphasized are the important differences among these groups at risk.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Asthma / complications
  • Cryptococcosis / etiology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Mycobacterium Infections / etiology
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / etiology
  • Risk Factors