What it means
In infection control, "organism" usually means a microorganism, a living thing too small to see without a microscope. Some are harmless or helpful, such as the normal bacteria in the gut; those that cause disease are pathogenPATH-uh-jenA germ, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that can cause disease.path/o disease-gen something that producesFull entry . A culture report names the organism found and the drugs it responds to.
At a glance
| Spanish | organismo, microorganismo |
|---|---|
| Also written | organisms, organism's, organism’s |
Related terms
bacterium
A tiny one-celled living thing, seen only under a microscope, of which some kinds cause disease; the plural is bacteria.
pathogen
A germ, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that can cause disease.
toxin
A poison made by a living thing, such as a bacterium, plant or animal.
infectious
Caused by germs, or able to spread germs and cause infection in others.