Only individuals with severe immunocompromise need to be concerned about opportunistic infections caused by which organism?

Individuals with severe immunocompromise, such as those with HIV/AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, are particularly vulnerable to opportunistic infections caused by fungi. This is primarily due to the nature of the immune response and the specific mechanisms fungi employ to evade the immune system.

Fungi, such as Candida species or Aspergillus, can be present in the environment or even be part of the normal flora in healthy individuals, but they can cause severe infections in those with weakened immune systems. This can occur because the body’s ability to fight off fungal infections depends heavily on the functionality of T-cell responses and other components of the immune system that are often impaired in immunocompromised hosts.

While bacteria, viruses, and parasites can also cause opportunistic infections, the level of concern and risk from fungal infections is heightened among those with significant immunocompromise. Therefore, it is critical that healthcare providers monitor these patients for signs of fungal infections and consider prophylactic antifungal treatment when they are at high risk.