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Aetiology: |
The cause(s) of disease. |
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"Alert condition" surveillance: |
The monitoring of symptoms of infectious diseases which can spread rapidly to patients or to vulnerable groups. |
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"Alert organism" surveillance: |
The monitoring of isolates of antibiotic resistant organisms (bacterial, viral or fungal), which may spread rapidly between hospital patients and sometimes between hospital and community. |
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Bacteraemia: |
The presence of viable bacteria in the blood. |
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Immunocompetent: |
an individual with an intact immune system |
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Immunocompromised: |
a temporary or permanent state whereby an individual is rendered more susceptible to infection due to an impaired immune response. |
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Micro-organism: |
An organism that is too small, or barely visible, to be seen with the naked eye. The term embraces bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses and some forms of algae. |
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Nosocomial infection: |
an infection acquired during hospitalisation, also called hospital acquired infection. |
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Septicaemia: |
A systemic infection in which pathogens are present in the circulating bloodstream, having spread from an infection in any part of the body. |