Opportunistic infections are infections caused by microorganisms that ordinarily produce little or no disease in immunocompetent hosts but become pathogenic when host defences are impaired. They characteristically arise in the setting of advanced HIV infection and AIDS, cytotoxic chemotherapy, haematological maligna…
Opportunistic infections are infections caused by microorganisms that ordinarily produce little or no disease in immunocompetent hosts but become pathogenic when host defences are impaired. They characteristically arise in the setting of advanced HIV infection and AIDS, cytotoxic chemotherapy, haematological malignancy, organ transplantation, and other states of immunosuppression, where reduced CD4 T-cell counts or compromised cellular immunity permit fungi, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa to proliferate. Common agents include Candida and other fungi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pneumocystis, and various viral and parasitic organisms, and clinical presentation depends on the site and degree of immune deficiency. Prevention and management hinge on restoring immune function, notably through antiretroviral therapy in HIV, alongside targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment, immunisation, and monitoring of immune status. Research relevant to this area spans the clinical profile and outcomes of HIV-infected patients in the antiretroviral era, antiretroviral regimens and their adverse effects, malaria and HIV co-infection and its impact on CD4 counts, antifungal susceptibility of Candida species, tuberculosis imaging agents, and HIV-associated malignancy. The International Journal of Infection Prevention publishes peer-reviewed research on opportunistic infections, the immunocompromised host, and strategies for their prevention and control.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 12 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Opportunistic Infections, linking to each citing work.