Andida albicans is part of our normal oral flora. Under certain conditions, it can overgrow, leading to oral thrush. Typically,
infections are seen in individuals who are immunocompromised, such as newborns or individuals who may have recently taken antibacterial medications. This type of pathogen is classified as which of the following? A) True, exogenous pathogen
B) Opportunistic, endogenous pathogen
C) Opportunistic, exogenous pathogen
D) True, endogenous pathogen
Opportunistic infection is an infection that is caused by the microbes that are otherwise the component of one's own normal microbiota. Under particular conditions, the microbes become pathogenic and cause infection. The pathogen-derived from one's own microbiota is called endogenous pathogen.
According to the given information, <em>Candida albicans </em>is a part of the microflora of mouth but becomes pathogenic under certain conditions. In healthy individuals, they do not produce disease as their overgrowth is suppressed by other microbiota and other host resistance mechanisms. The infection occurs only in those individuals with predisposing factors such as weakened immune system or after consumption of antibacterial medications that disturb the normal microbiota and immune competency. This makes it an opportunistic, endogenous pathogen.
