opportunistic infection

American  

[ahp-er-too-nis-tik-in-fek-shuhn] / ɑp ər tuˈnɪs tɪk ɪnˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

1. Pathology. an infection developed from a microorganism that normally is not pathogenic but can become so when present in someone whose immune system is weakened, as by cancer, HIV, or any sort of medically induced immunosuppression.

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opportunistic infection Scientific  

/ ŏp′ər-to̅o̅-nĭs′tĭk /

1. An infection by a microorganism that normally does not cause disease but does so when lowered resistance to infection is caused by the impairment of the body's immune system.

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opportunistic infection Cultural  

1. An infection caused by a microorganism that under normal conditions would not bring about disease. Opportunistic infections occur when the body's immune system is weakened by disease or malnutrition. (See AIDS.)

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