What it means
Describes a disease caused by a microorganism, or a person or material that can pass one on. An infectious disease is not always contagious from person to person: Lyme disease comes from a tick bite and tetanus from soil. The infectious period is the time during which a person can spread it.
At a glance
| Spanish | infeccioso |
|---|---|
| Also written | infective, infectiousness |
Related terms
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
pathogen
A germ, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that can cause disease.
infection control
The policies and practices used in health care to prevent the spread of infection.
organism
A living thing, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, parasite, plant or animal.