Copy of `University of Leeds - Terms Used in Medical Microbiology`

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University of Leeds - Terms Used in Medical Microbiology Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Microbiology Date & country: 07/01/2008, UK Words: 107

anorexia
Loss of appetite.

aso
Antistreptolysin O (titre).

bacteraemia
The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.

bacteriophage
a virus that infects bacteria. Some bacteriophage carry genes that code for toxin production.

biopsy
Removal of some tissue from the body for examination to establish a diagnosis.

buboe
infected lymph nodes associated with the bubonic plague.

carbuncle
Skin lesion typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and resembling a boil with multiple heads.

caries
Suppuration and subsequent decay of hard tissue.

cellulitis
Rapidly-spreading skin infection.

cerebrospinal fluid (csf)
Fluid bathing the ventricles of the brain and circulating around the spaces surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

cervical lymphadenopathy
swollen glands in the neck.

cholecystectomy
Surgical Removal of the gall bladder.

commensals
Microbes that live on and in a healthy body. These are the resident microbes of the body and outnumber human cells by about 10:1. The word is derived from the Latin, meaning to share one's table.

crepitation
Sound produced on pressure when there is air in the subcutaneous tissue.

csu
Catheter specimen of urine.

cyanosis
A blue-ish appearance of the skin and mucous membranes caused by the failure to oxygenate the blood adequately.

cystoscopy
Surgical investigation of the lower urinary tract and bladder.

dental caries
Decay of teeth due to penetration of bacteria through the enamel to the dentine.

dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing caused by pain.

dyspnoea
Difficulty with breathing.

dysuria
Difficulty or pain on passing urine.

ectopic pregnancy
Pregnancy in which implantation occurs outside the uterus. Development of ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for the mother.

emu
Early morning urine.

encephalopathy
cerebral inflammation. This is most often manifest as disorientation, mental confusion, excitability or abnormal behaviour.

endemic
A disease that is always present in a particular locality.

endogenous infections
Infections that are caused by microbes derived from the patient's own commensal flora. In contrast, exogenous infections are acquired from sources outside the patient.

endotoxin
The lioppolysaccharide associated with the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

epidemic
An infection that occurs at a level greater than expected.

erysipelas
Local inflammation of the skin of the face, resulting in a deep red coloration of the affected area, with attendant vesiculation.

erythema
Reddening due to inflammation.

erythematous
Superficial redness.

exogenous infections
Infections that are acquired from sources outside the patient. In contrast, endogenous infections are caused by microbes derived from the patient's own commensal flora.

exotoxin
A toxic protein produced by a bacterium and released into its environment. It may exert adverse effects quite remote from the site of infection.

fastidious
Demanding in requirements for nutrients, atmospheric conditions and/or temperature of incubation.

fungaemia
The presence of fungi in the bloodstream.

furuncle
Infection of a single hair follicle, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus - a boil.

gangrene
Anaerobic infection of the musculature.

glomerulonephritis
acute inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidney

haematuria
The presence of blood in the urine.

haemoptysis
Coughing up blood. Because it is aerated in the lungs, the blood is often bright red, and if force is used to expel the sputum, it may also be frothy.

hemiplegia
Paralysis of one side of the body.

hyperaemic
gorged with blood. This will give a very red appearance to the tissue.

hypertension
Raised blood pressure.

ischaemia
Deprivation of blood supply.

jarisch-herxheimer reaction
The sudden worsening of a patient's condition following penicillin therapy for syphilis. It is caused by the sudden release of toxins from the dying and dead treponemes

laceration
Wound with jagged edges.

laparoscopy
Surgical investigation of the abdominal cavity.

leukocytosis
Increased number of white blood cells in the blood.

lumbar puncture
Procedure in which a needle is introduced into the lumbar region of the spine to withdraw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid.

lymphadenopathy
swollen glands.

malaise
Discomfort, feeling awful.

metachromatic granules
Inclusion bodies in bacterial cells that alter the colour of particular stains.

micturition
Passing urine.

msu
Mid-stream Specimen of urine.

mucociliary escalator
Mucus lines the respiratory tract, and cilia beat to remove the mucus out of the lungs. This is a continual process so any particles that penetrate into the lungs are trapped in the mucus and swept out up to the epiglottis where they can be swallowed.

myalgia
Muscle pain.

mycosis
Fungal infection.

myeloma
Tumour of the bone marrow.

myringotomy
Surgical incision of the tympanic membrane.

necrosis
Death of tissue.

necrotizing enterocolitis
Destruction of both small and large intestines.

necrotizing fasciitis
Infection that leads to the destruction of the musculature underlying skin.

nosocomial
Literally, disease associated with, and often restricted to hospital. Hospital-acquired.

oedema
Collection of fluid in a tissue causing swelling which, if indented, only slowly regains its former shape.

pandemic
an infection that spreads around the globe.

papular
Pimple-like

parasitaemia
The presence of parasites in the bloodstream.

paroxysm
Fit, sudden attack.

pcr
The Polymerase Chain Reaction, used to amplify DNA lying between two target sequences.

peripheral neuropathy
Inflammation of the peripheral nerves with pain, loss of function, altered sensation, etc.

petechia
Small spot caused by leakage of blood under the skin.

phage
See bacteriophage

photophobia
Light intolerance.

pleuritic pain
Pain in the chest or side associated with inflammation of the pleural membranes surrounding the lungs.

polymorphs
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes, phagocytic cells.

prion
Putative infectious protein that is associated with spongiform encephalopathies such as scrapie, BSE and Creutzfeldt Jakob disease.

prostration
Extreme exhaustion and collapse.

puerperal fever
Infection suffered by women following childbirth.

puo
Pyrexia of unknown origin. This term is now more commonly referred to as FUO: Fever of unknown origin.

purulent
Resembling or containing pus.

pyogenic cocci
Staphylococcus aureus and the b-haemolytic streptococci associated with the formation of pus ('puon' is the Greek for 'pus').

pyrexia
Fever, elevated body temperature.

rheumatic fever
acute swelling and pain associated with fever and affecting one or more joints causing stiffness. In most cases, inflammation also affects the heart. This may lead to cardiac complications later in life.

rigor
Sudden chill with shaking.

rpr
Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, a non-specific test for syphilis in which a cadiolipin complex antigen reacts with antibodies in people with syphilis. Although non-specific, it is very useful in following treatment as the antibodies disappear on successful treatment.

scalded skin syndrome
Staphylococcus aureus infection that leads to widespread peeling of the skin.

septicaemia
Blood poisoning usually due to the presence of bacterial toxins.

sequela
Morbid condition following a disease.

serosanguinous exudate
A serum-like exudate which is blood-stained.

shift to the left
Preponderance of immature neutrophils in the peripheral blood.

shift to the right
Preponderance of mature neutrophils in the peripheral blood.

sigmoidoscopy
Examination of the sigmoid flexure, which is that part of the colon just above the rectum.

suppuration
Formation of pus.

suture
Stitch(es) used to close a wound.

synergy
When the combined action of two antimicrobials is greater than the sum of their effects when used alone.

tachycardia
Rapid heart beat and consequent pulse rate.

tachypnoea
Rapid breathing.

toxaemia
Poisoning of the blood.

toxic shock syndro
ME: Toxic illness associated with use of super-absorbent tampons and caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus that elaborate TSST-1 toxin.

tppa
Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test. This is a test that has replaced the TPHA test -Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test. In the TPPA test, stained gelatin particles substitute for avian red blood cells, used in the TPHA test.