SUPERINFECTION Meaning and
Definition
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Superinfection is a term used in the field of medicine to describe a secondary infection that occurs during the course of an existing infection. This phenomenon arises when a patient, who is already suffering from an infection, acquires a new infection caused by a different organism or a different strain of the same organism. The term "superinfection" is often used to refer specifically to cases where the new infection is resistant to the treatment or medications that were previously effective against the original infection.
Superinfections can occur in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and even the community. Common scenarios leading to superinfection include prolonged antibiotic therapy, weakened immune system, or disruption of the body's normal microbial flora. Some examples of superinfections include the development of Candida infection in patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, the emergence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria in patients with chronic infections, or the occurrence of viral infections in individuals with compromised immune systems.
Superinfections can complicate the treatment of primary infections, prolong the recovery process, and increase the risk of treatment failure. It requires careful management, which may involve adjusting medication regimens, implementing infection control measures, or providing supportive care to enhance the patient's immune response. Timely identification of superinfections is crucial to ensure appropriate interventions are initiated to combat the new infection and prevent further complications.
Common Misspellings for SUPERINFECTION
- auperinfection
- zuperinfection
- xuperinfection
- duperinfection
- euperinfection
- wuperinfection
- syperinfection
- shperinfection
- sjperinfection
- siperinfection
- s8perinfection
- s7perinfection
- suoerinfection
- sulerinfection
- su-erinfection
- su0erinfection
- supwrinfection
- supsrinfection
- supdrinfection
Etymology of SUPERINFECTION
The word "superinfection" originates from the combination of two root words: "super", derived from the Latin word "super" meaning over or above, and "infection", derived from the Latin word "infectio" meaning contamination or infection. The term was likely formed to describe an additional infection that occurs on top of an existing infection, emphasizing the idea of multiple infections or overlying infections.
Similar spelling words for SUPERINFECTION
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