index patient
[ in-deks pey-shuhnt ]
nounPathology.
the first person known to have a particular disease or other medical condition in a population, especially the first patient in an epidemic known to have contracted the infection: The index patient did not immediately test positive, and consequently spread the virus for several days.
Origin of index patient
1First recorded in 1950–55
- Also called in·dex case pa·tient [in-deks keys pey-shuhnt] /ˈɪn dɛks ˌkeɪs ˌpeɪ ʃənt/ .
- See also patient zero (def. 1).
Words Nearby index patient
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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