Medical Microbiology

10 1 GeneralAspectsofMedicalMicrobiology

Tab 1. 4 BasicInfectiologicalTerminologyII(Host)

Term Explanation

Contamination Microbiologicalpresenceofmicroorganismsonobjects,in

theenvironment,orinsamplesforanalysis

Colonization Presenceofmicroorganismsonskinormucosa;nopenetra-

tionintotissues;typicalofnormalflora;pathogenicmicro-

organismsoccasionallyalsoshowcolonizationbehavior

Infection Invasionofahostorganismbymicroorganisms,proliferation

oftheinvadingorganisms,andhostreaction

Inapparent(orsub-

clinical)infection

Infectionwithoutoutbreakofclinicalsymptoms

Infectiousdisease

(orclinicalinfection)

Infectionwithoutbreakofclinicalsymptoms

Probabilityof

manifestation

Frequencyofclinicalmanifestationofaninfectionindis-

posedindividuals(%)

Endogenousinfection Infectionarisingfromthecolonizingflora

Exogenousinfection Infectionarisingfrominvasionofhostbymicroorganisms

fromsourcesexternaltoit

Nosocomialinfection Infectionacquiredduringhospitalization(urinarytractinfec-

tions,infectionsoftherespiratoryorgans,woundinfection,

sepsis)

Localinfection Infectionthatremainsrestrictedtotheportalofentryand

surroundingarea

Generalizedinfection Lymphogenousand/orhematogenousspreadofinvading

pathogenstartingfromtheportalofentry;infectionofor-

ganstowhichpathogenshowsaspecificaffinity(organo-

tropism);threestages:incubation,generalization,organ

manifestation

Sepsis Systemicdiseasecausedbymicroorganismsand/ortheir

toxicproducts;thereisoftenalocalizedfocusofinfection

fromwhichpathogensortoxicproductsentertheblood-

streamcontinuouslyorinintermittentphases

Transitorybacteremia/

viremia/parasitemia

Briefpresenceofmicroorganismsinthebloodstream

Superinfection Occurrenceofasecondinfectioninthecourseofafirstin-

fection

Relapses Seriesofinfectionsbythesamepathogen

Reinfection Seriesofinfectionsbydifferentpathogens

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Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme