secondary infection

American  

[sek-uhn-der-ee in-fek-shuhn] / ˈsɛk ənˌdɛr i ɪnˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

Medicine/Medical, Pathology.

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of secondary infection

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

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

Although surgeons often treat preemptively with antibiotics, life-threatening infection can occur right after surgery or weeks or months later as a secondary infection.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2023

No theory of personal or secondary infection could account for the widespread prevalence, particularly as only one isolated case had occurred during the preceding year, and this had been imported.

From Rural Hygiene by Ogden, Henry N. (Henry Neely)