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Article: Infection and Resistance
- Article from:
- World of Microbiology and Immunology
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Infection and resistance
Infection describes the process whereby harmful
microorganisms
enter the body, multiply, and cause disease. Normally the defense mechanisms of the body's
immune system
keep infectious microorganisms from becoming established. Those organisms, however, that can evade or diffuse the immune system and therapeutic strategies (e.g., the application of
antibiotics
) are able to increase their population numbers faster than they can be killed. The population increase usually results in host illness.
There are a variety of ways by which harmful microorganisms can be acquired. Blood contaminated with microbes, such as the viral agents of
hepatitis
and acquired
...