| infection | 1. <microbiology> Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may be clinically unapparent or result in local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication or antigen antibody response. The infection may remain localised, subclinical and temporary if the bodys defensive mechanisms are effective. A local infection may persist and spread by extension to become an acute, subacute or chronic clinical infection or disease state. A local infection may also become systemic when the microorganisms gain access to the lymphatic or vascular system. 2. An infectious disease. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| infection calculus | A calculus associated with infection and/or obstruction, usually composed of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate). Synonym: infection calculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| infection control | Programs of disease surveillance, generally within health care facilities, designed to investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infections and their causative microorganisms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infection control, dental | Efforts to prevent and control the spread of infections within dental health facilities or those involving provision of dental care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infection control nurse | A registered nurse with additional education in the monitoring and prevention of nosocomial infections in the client population in an agency. Synonym: infection control nurse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| infection control practitioners | Physicians or other qualified individuals responsible for implementing and overseeing the policies and procedures followed by a health care facility to reduce the risk of infection to patients and staff. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infection-exhaustion psychosis | A psychosis following an acute infection, shock, or chronic intoxication; begins as delirium followed by pronounced mental confusion with hallucinations and unsystematised delusions, and sometimes stupor. Synonym: febrile psychosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| infection immunity | The paradoxical immune status in which resistance to reinfection coincides with the persistence of the original infection. Synonym: concomitant immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| infection thread | In the formation of root nodules, a cellulosic tube through which Rhizobium cells can travel to reach and infect root cells. (09 Oct 1997) |
| terminal infection | An acute infection, commonly pneumonic or septic, occurring toward the end of any disease and often the cause of death. Synonym: agonal infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| endogenous infection | Infection caused by an infectious agent already present in the body, the previous infection having been inapparent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| endosymbiotic infection | A situation where a cell that has been infected by a virus is prevented from dividing but is not immediately killed. (09 Oct 1997) |
| yeast infection | <gastroenterology, microbiology, oncology> Infection with a fungus of the genus Candida. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist cutaneous areas of the body and is generally caused by Candida albicans, it most commonly involves the skin (dermatocandidiasis), oral mucous membranes (oral candidiasis), respiratory tract (bronchocandidiasis) and vagina (vaginal candidiasis or thrush). Rarely there is a systemic infection or endocarditis. Oral candidiasis: describes a fungal (yeast) infection of the oral cavity due to Candida. It is common in infants, diabetics or those on chemotherapy and is well recognised in patients with HIV infection and AIDS. Oesophageal candidiasis: Infection of the oesophagus by the yeast-like fungus Candidal albicans. Usually occurs in the immunocompromised individual (AIDS or following chemotherapy). Oral candidiasis is a predisposing factor but oesophageal involvement can occur without evidence of infection in the oral cavity. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, pain on swallowing and oral lesions. Diagnosis is made using endoscopy. Treatment is with antifungal agents such as ketoconazole or fluconazole. Synonym: moniliasis, candidosis, oidiomycosis, blastodendriosis. (16 Dec 1997) |
| upper respiratory infection | Any number of viral or bacterial infections that includes infections of the throat, nasopharynx, sinuses, larynx, trachea or bronchi. (27 Sep 1997) |
| zoonotic infection | An infection shared in nature by man with other species of vertebrate animals. (05 Mar 2000) |