Autoinfection is a term used in medicine to describe a process where an individual becomes infected with a pathogen from their own body. This can occur when a pathogen is able to reproduce within the host’s body and infect other areas of the body. Autoinfection can occur in a variety of ways and can be caused by a range of pathogens.
Definitions
Autoinfection is defined as the process by which an individual becomes infected with a pathogen from their own body. This can occur when a pathogen is able to reproduce within the host’s body and infect other areas of the body. Autoinfection can also occur when a pathogen is able to survive in the environment and re-infect the host.
Origin
The term autoinfection comes from the Greek words “auto” meaning self and “infection” meaning the process of infecting. The term was first used in the medical field in the early 20th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to Merriam-Webster, autoinfection is “infection of an individual by microorganisms (as parasites or bacteria) that are normally present in or on the body and that have undergone a change (as in virulence) that permits them to cause disease.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines autoinfection as “the infection of an individual by microorganisms that are normally present in or on the body and that have undergone a change in virulence that permits them to cause disease.”
Associations
Autoinfection is commonly associated with parasitic infections, such as those caused by intestinal worms. It can also occur in cases of bacterial infections, such as those caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for autoinfection include self-infection, endogenous infection, and self-contamination.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for autoinfection, but the opposite of autoinfection would be infection caused by an external source, such as exposure to a pathogen in the environment.
The same root words
Some related terms to autoinfection include autoimmunity, which refers to the immune system attacking the body’s own cells, and autophagy, which is the process by which the body breaks down and recycles its own cells.
Example Sentences
- The patient’s autoinfection was caused by a parasitic worm that had migrated from the intestine to the lungs.
- The doctor suspected autoinfection when the patient’s Staphylococcus aureus infection returned shortly after treatment.
- Autoinfection can occur when a pathogen is able to survive in the environment and re-infect the host.