What it means
Single-celled organisms that are larger and more complex than bacteria. Most live freely in water and soil, but some are parasites that cause disease: Plasmodium causes malaria, Giardia causes diarrhea from unclean water, Toxoplasma can harm an unborn baby, and Trichomonas causes a sexually transmitted infection.
For the nurse
Ask about travel, drinking water, pets and sexual contacts when a protozoan infection is possible. Teach pregnant clients to avoid cleaning cat litter and to cook meat well, to lower the risk of toxoplasmosis.
At a glance
| Spanish | protozoos |
|---|---|
| Also written | protozoan, protozoans |
Related terms
bacterium
A tiny one-celled living thing, seen only under a microscope, of which some kinds cause disease; the plural is bacteria.
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.