Question

Which of the following causes opportunistic infections in AIDS patients?

a. dermatophytes

b. candida albicans

c. e. coli

d. staphylococcus

e. all of the above

Answer 1

Answer: ‘e’ all of the above

Explanation: HIV, the Human immunodeficiency virus causes AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The virus in its active state, attacks mainly the immune cells like the T helper cell, which has CD4 marker on its membrane which serves as the receptor for the virus entry into the cell. T helper cells are responsible for acquired immunity, which helps us to combat various diseases.

Many microorganisms constitute our normal flora, and are present in our environment but they are not able to cause the disease. Once the immunity is weakened these microorganisms become opportunist pathogens and cause diseases in the body.

a.Dermatophytes : These are fungi infecting skin, nail hair, together the infections are known as dermatophytosis. The most common species of dermatophytes causing the infection is Trichophyton rubrum. The incidence of opportunistic infection caused by dermatophytes is four times more in AIDS patients.

b. Candida albicans : These are the organisms which constitute normal flora of the oral cavity, it is also found in the gastrointestinal cavity and genitourinary tract of humans. In immunocompromised individuals like AIDS patients, the fungi can overgrow causing oropharyngeal candidiasis which affects mouth and throat and can spread to oesophagus.

c. E.coli : the organism is the commensal of human gastrointestinal tract. There are prominent incidences of the AIDS patients suffering from diarrhoea because of E.coli infection.

d. Staphylococcus : Staphylococci are commensal of skin. In AIDS patients, the incidence of Stphylococci infections are high, especially methicillin resistant Staphylococcus which can cause systemic infection in AIDS patients.

There are many other opportunistic infections caused when the immune system is compromised and the mortality of the AIDS patient is because of these multiple infections.