Protists as opportunistic pathogens: public health impact in the 1990s and beyond.
Protist organisms (protozoa and fungi) have become increasingly prominent as opportunistic pathogens among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and among organ transplant recipients--two immunocompromised populations that have increased dramatically in the past two decades. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia continues to be the most common serious opportunistic infection (OI) among HIV-infected persons in the United States, occurring frequently among persons not previously receiving medical care. Toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, cryptosporidiosis, and isosporiasis occur frequently in HIV-infected persons in the developing world. Candidiasis and aspergillosis are common OIs in organ transplant recipients. As these populations of immunosuppressed patients continue to expand worldwide new OIs caused by protist pathogens are likely to emerge.
Kaplan
J E
JE
Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jxk2@cdc.gov
Jones
J L
JL
Dykewicz
C A
CA
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011634:Public Health