Significance of Opportunistic pathogen
Opportunistic pathogens are microorganisms that generally do not cause disease in healthy individuals but can lead to infections in those with weakened immune systems. These pathogens exploit compromised immune defenses, resulting in severe health complications, particularly in hospitalized patients. Examples include bacteria like Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause serious infections in immunocompromised hosts. Such organisms highlight the critical role of the immune system's strength in protecting against infections.
Synonyms: Opportunistic bacteria
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The concept of Opportunistic pathogen in scientific sources
The keyphrase "Opportunistic pathogen" describes microorganisms that rarely cause disease in healthy individuals but can lead to significant health issues in those with compromised immune systems or altered microbial balances.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) This is a microorganism that causes disease primarily in individuals with weakened immune systems, and Listeria monocytogenes is described as such.[1] (2) Opportunistic pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease in susceptible individuals, and A. baumannii is a frequent one that causes nosocomial infections.[2] (3) These are emerging global entities associated with the potential to cause diseases, as they can take advantage of opportunities to cause harm in certain situations.[3] (4) This describes the nature of Cryptococcus, as it takes advantage of weakened immune defenses to cause infection.[4] (5) Bacteria that can cause disease in immunocompromised patients, particularly if introduced into the bloodstream.[5]