tunnel infection

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).

---

tunnel infection

Infectious disease A catheter-related infection seen in tunneled central venous catheters Clinical Erythema, tenderness, induration of skin and subcutaneous tissue extending > 2 cm from the skin exit site. See Central venous catheter.