opportunistic
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opportunistic
[op″or-too-nis´tik]1. denoting a microorganism that does not ordinarily cause disease but becomes pathogenic under certain circumstances.
2. denoting a disease or infection caused by such an organism.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
op·por·tu·nis·tic
(op'ŏr-tū-nis'tik),1. Denoting an organism capable of causing disease only in a host with lowered resistance, for example, by other diseases or by drugs.
2. Denoting a disease caused by such an organism.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
opportunistic
adjective Relating to a microorganism—or the disease/infection it invokes—that is part of the normal non-pathogenic flora, which causes disease under certain conditions (e.g., by a compromised host immune defence).Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
opportunistic
Medtalk adjective Relating to a microorganism that is part of the normal nonpathogenic flora, which causes disease given the opportunity–eg, by a compromised host immune defenseMcGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
op·por·tu·nis·tic
(op'ŏr-tū-nis'tik)1. Denoting an organism capable of causing disease only in a host with lowered resistance; e.g., by other diseases or by drugs.
2. Denoting a disease caused by such an organism.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
opportunistic
- (of microorganisms) capable of causing disease in some circumstances but which under normal conditions are harmless.
- (of any species) exploiting new habitats.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
Opportunistic
Causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person is already sick or has a weak immune system.
Mentioned in: Pseudomonas Infections
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.