infection (in-fek's hun). 1

The act or proce by which disease is set up in a vegetable, animal, or human organism by the implantation of animal or vegetable parasites. The succe ful invasion and growth of microorganisms in the ti ues of the body (Kolmer). 2. The material by which communicable diseases are propagated, aerial i. Infection through the air by means of dust particles or other infected minute substances, atrium of i. The point of entrance of an infection. auto-i. See self-i. crypto genetic i. Bacterial infection without a discoverable wound for the entrance of the infectious agent. cryptogenic i. Isolated focal infection, formerly thought of as idiopathic, as in tuberculous, cervical adenitis. droplet i. I. by means of small droplets of sputum. intra-uterine i. I. of the child in utero. mixed i. I. with two or more bacteria, purulent i. See pyemia, secondary i. I. by a bacterium, following a primary i. by another organism, self-i. I. of the organism at large or of a fresh portion of it from a preexisting source within itself. septic i. The invasion of a wound by septic germs such as interfere with the normal progre of healing, or induce suppuration. It may or may not be followed by septicemia. septic i. of the blood. See septicemia. spermatic i. The supposed infection of the child with syphilis through the semen of the father, systemic i. I. of the organism at large with a disease previously only local, terminal i. An acute infection producing death, in the course of a chronic disease. waterborne i. I. transmitted by means of drinking water. [Lat., infectio, from in- Hcere, to dye.]