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infection |
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infection /in·fec·tion/ (-fek´shun) 1. invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, especially that causing local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response. 2. an infectious disease. airborne infection one that is contracted by inhalation of microorganisms or spores suspended in air on water droplets or dust particles. droplet infection infection due to inhalation of respiratory pathogens suspended on liquid particles exhaled by someone already infected (droplet nuclei) . endogenous infection that due to reactivation of organisms present in a dormant focus, as occurs in tuberculosis, etc. tunnel infection subcutaneous infection of an artificial passage into the body that has been kept patent. opportunistic infection infection by an organism that does not ordinarily cause disease but becomes pathogenic under certain circumstances (e.g., impaired immune responses).
infection [infek′shən] Etymology: L, inficere, to stain 1 the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms that reproduce and multiply, causing disease by local cellular injury, secretion of a toxin, or antigen-antibody reaction in the host. 2 a disease caused by the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms. Compare infestation. infectious, adj. infection (infek´sh n an invasion of the tissues of the body by disease-producing microorganisms and the reaction of these tissues to the microorganisms and/or their toxins. The mere presence of microorganisms without reaction is not evidence of infection. infection, adenovirus, n a proliferation of the adenovirus that may cause any number of illnesses, including “swimming pool conjunctivitis” and gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases, among others; it is possible to be infected without manifesting any symptoms. infection, airborne, n an infection contracted by inhalation of microorganisms contained in air or water particles. infection control, n procedures and protocols designed to prevent or limit cross-contamination in the health care delivery environment. infection control, blood bank and blood transfusion, n.pl the precautions taken to ensure that blood-borne pathogens are not transmitted via donated blood; includes rejection of potential donors whose medical history shows evidence of viral hepatitis, drug addiction, or recent blood transfusions or tattoos, as well as laboratory testing of all donated blood for the presence of hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and the HIV-1 antibody. infection control, surveillance, n the monitoring of the transmission of a disease in order to limit its occurrence. infection, focal, n the process in which microorganisms located at a certain site, or focus, in the body are disseminated throughout the body to set up secondary sites, or foci, of infection in other tissues. infection, hemolytic streptococcal, n 1. an infection usually caused by Group A hemolytic streptococci. Such infections include scarlet fever, streptococcal sore throat, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis. 2. an infection caused by streptococci that produce a toxic substance (hemolysin) that will lyse the erythrocytes and liberate hemoglobin from red blood cells. infection, inflammatory, n an influx or accumulation of inflammatory elements (cellular and exudative) in the interstices of the tissues as a result of tissue injury by physical, chemical, microbiologic, and other irritants. Cellular elements include lymphocytes, plasma cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and the macrophages of reticuloendothelial origin. infection, latent, n a lingering infection that may lie dormant in the body for a time but may become active under certain conditions. infection, local, n the prevention of excitation of the free nerve endings by literally flooding the immediate area with a local anesthetic solution. infection, nosocomial, n an infection that first occurs during a patient's stay at a health care facility, regardless of whether it is detected during the stay or after. infection, opportunistic, n an illness or condition that occurs when pathogens are able to exploit a vulnerable host. An infection that is able to take hold because resistance is low. infection, primary, n the original outbreak of an illness against which the body has had no opportunity to build antibodies; the originating infection. infection, recurrent, n a reoccurrence of the same illness from which an individual has previously recovered. infection, Vincent's, n.pr See gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative. infection, waterborne,
n an illness that occurs as the result of drinking contaminated water or of eating fish that has been taken from contaminated waters. infection 1. invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, especially that causing local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication or antigen-antibody response. 2. an infectious disease. acute infection short duration, of the order of several days. airborne infection infection by inhalation of organisms suspended in air on water droplets or dust particles. arrested infection restrained in its development by a capsule or adhesion but still containing infective material. chronic infection long duration, of the order of weeks or months. infection control the utilization of procedures and techniques in the surveillance, investigation and compilation of statistical data in order to reduce the spread of infection, particularly nosocomial infections. cross infection infection transmitted between patients infected with different pathogenic microorganisms. droplet infection infection due to inhalation of respiratory pathogens suspended on liquid particles exhaled by an animal that is already infected. dustborne infection infection by inhalation of pathogens that have become affixed to particles of dust. endogenous infection that due to reactivation of organisms present in a dormant focus, as occurs in tuberculosis, etc. exogenous infection that caused by organisms not normally present in the body but which have gained entrance from the environment. general infection see systemic infection (below). latent infection the animal is infected but there are no clinical signs nor infectious agent detectable in discharges. local infection has a common syndrome of varying degree, depending on the site and acuteness of the lesion and the type of microorganisms present, including fever, toxemia and leukocytosis with a left shift. The specific individual signs relate to the location of the lesion and the pressure it exerts on nearby organs. See also abscess, cellulitis, phlegmon, osteomyelitis, omphalophlebitis, empyema, adenitis, metritis, mastitis, periphlebitis. masked infection an infection is known to occur but the infectious agent cannot be demonstrated, e.g. the sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever virus. mixed infection infection with more than one kind of organism at the same time. nosocomial infection pertaining to or acquired in hospital. opportunistic infection infection with organisms which are normally harmless but become pathogenic when the body's defense mechanisms are compromised. patent infection one in which the infectious agent can be demonstrated in discharges of the patient. persistent infection a characteristic of some viruses, particularly herpesviruses and lentiviruses, in which there may be long-lasting or life-long latent infections, with asymptomatic periods and recurring acute episodes of clinical disease (herpesviruses) or onset of severe clinical disease (lentiviruses). pyogenic infection infection by pus-producing organisms. secondary infection infection by a pathogen following an infection by a pathogen of another kind. infection stones see struvite urolith. subclinical infection infection associated with no detectable signs but caused by microorganisms capable of producing easily recognizable diseases, such as mastitis or brucellosis; often detected by the production of antibody, or by delayed hypersensitivity exhibited in a skin test reaction to such antigens as tuberculoprotein. super infection a second infection occurs in an animal which is already experiencing an infection with another agent. systemic infection the infection is widespread throughout the body and must be assumed to be in all organs. terminal infection an acute infection occurring near the end of a disease and often causing death. transmissible infection an infection capable of being transmitted from one animal to another. Called also contagious. waterborne infection
infection by microorganisms transmitted in water. infection An invasion of the body by disease-producing microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite). Treatment typically includes anti-infective drugs, such as antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral agents. See inflammation.
infection Epidemiology The presence of a pathogen in a host which may or may not be associated with clinical disease. See Acute HIV infection, Atypical mycobacterial infection, Breakthrough infection, Chronic symptomatic HIV infection, Close
contact infection, Congenital CMV infection, Cross-infection, Danger space infection, Ear infection, Emerging infection, Exit-site infection, Fungal infection, HIV-1 superinfection, Hyperinfection, Latent clostridial infection, Mixed wound
infection, Multiple infection, Multiplicity of infection, Mycobacterial infection, Nail infection, Nonprogressive HIV infection, Nosocomial infection, Occult infection, Opportunistic infection, Parasitic infection, Perivascular inflammation, Ping
pong infection, Pocket infection, Reemerging infection, Respiratory tract infection, Satellite infection, Silent infection, Spillover infection, Sterile infection, Subclinical infection, Superinfection, Surgical site infection, Tap water infection, Tunnel infection, Urinary tract infection. Cf Disinfection. Patient discussion about Bacterial infection. Q. Can Alcoholism makes you vulnerable to intestine infections? A friend of mine is a heavy drinker, he had something like 5 infections in the past year. Is it connected? A. yes Q. How to prevent getting a bladder infection? I am worried about getting another bladder infection like I just had now. I am during my second trimester. How can I avoid getting it again? A. drink more cranberry juice,its 100% natural, and wont harm the baby in anyway. Q. What are the early symptoms of an HIV infection? Can I define it from other diseases? I heard that there is a sore throat and fever- but that can be anything…anything special? A. There are symptoms that can occur 2-4 weeks after the infection. Sore throat is one of them, fever, swollen lymph nodes. Read more or ask a question about Bacterial infectionBut having HIV is not something that you want to sit around and guess about. Go to your doctor or the closest clinic and get tested so that in the case that you have contracted it you don't pass it to someone else. And any way those symptoms can be because of thousands of other infections. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Some sections, such as "Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Serious Bacterial Infection, Especially Meningococcemia" or "Reasons Not To Treat Fever," are a joy to read and could be posted on the walls of emergency departments or general medical wards in every hospital. Unlike HIV-AIDS, this bacterial infection called lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is easily treatable with antibiotics. Sinus congestion and colored nasal discharge are common signs of a cold, not necessarily the result of a bacterial infection, so antibiotics aren't needed. |
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