secondary infection
Americannoun
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an infection occurring in an area of the body that already has or has recently had an infection.
After recovering from the flu, she developed a secondary infection in her lungs that is being treated with antibiotics.
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an infection occurring in an area of the body following trauma or severe damage: The gunshot did not hit a vital organ, but he died from a secondary infection in the wound.
His leg was so severely burned that it quickly developed secondary infections.
The gunshot did not hit a vital organ, but he died from a secondary infection in the wound.
Etymology
Origin of secondary infection
First recorded in 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scratching can cause secondary infection and prolong the irritation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2024
Officials said it was possible that some visitors may have passed the virus on through secondary infection.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2024
If your symptoms don’t improve after several days, or improve and then regress, it could be a sign you have a secondary infection such as pneumonia, Casto said.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 26, 2024
The leaking fluid triggers a cytokine storm and can cause a secondary infection.
From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2024
Bronchial Stenosis.—Stenosis of one or more bronchi results at times from cicatricial contraction following secondary infection of leutic, tuberculous or traumatic lesions.
From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
