DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY USED IN MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Vector Animate carrier of microorganisms, many times an arthropod

Virulence The degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism

Small, simple structured "particle" reliant of its host for survival. Causes
Virus
hepatitis and HIV

Bacteremia The presence of bacteria in blood

Most common group of microbes. Essential to life; many reside naturally in

Bacteria
the body. Cause disease when a person is compromised

Binary fission The process by which bacteria reproduce

Bacterial toxin confined within the body of a bacterium, freed only when the
Endotoxin
bacteria is broken down

A toxin produced by a microorganism and excreted into its surrounding

Exotoxin
medium. Most potent toxins known

Inanimate object which act as reservoirs for

Fomite
infection.(Clothes/utensils/contaminated equipment/surgical instrument

Gram negative
Bacteria which appear red/pink following a staining process
bacteria

Gram positive
Bacteria which retain a purple color when subjected to a staining process
bacteria

Host The organism from which a parasite gets its nourishment

Infection Term used when nonresident flora invade a susceptible area/host

The body's response to infection. Signs/symtoms: redness, heat, swelling

Inflammation
(edema), pain, pus

Microorganisms Living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye

Nosocomial Infection that develops while a patient is in the hospital or is produced by

infection microbes during hospitalization

Pyogenic organism Pus producing microorganism

"Blood poisoning". Systemic disease associated with pathogenic

Septicemia
microbes/toxins in blood

Acute infection An infection of sudden onset and short duration

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY USED IN MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

Chronic infection Infection of slow progression, long duration

Infectious agent Microorganism which produces a specific disease

Disease which reaches a stage where the patient is not symptomatic but
Latent infection
still harbors the microorganism

Local infection An infection confined within an area

Second infection due to the use of antibiotics or disruption of the normal

Superinfection
flora

Suppuration the process of pus formation

Systemic infection An infection which occurs throughout the body

Toxin Poisons released by microorganisms

Transient
Temporary flora, not part of the normal flora
microorganism