immunocompromized

immunocompromized

In a condition of diminished ability to resist infection, to reject foreign material gaining access to the body, and to react aggressively at a cellular level to early cancerous change. People may become immunocompromized by heavy and prolonged antibiotic treatment, by exposure to large doses of CORTICOSTEROIDS or other IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS, or by disorders affecting the immune system such as AIDS.