Microbiology terminologies

No	Terminology	Explanation
1	Aerobes	An organism that can thrives only in presence of oxygen
2	Aerobic bacteria	Bacteria that can live and grow in the presence of oxygen
3	Anaerobic	Not dependent on the presence of oxygen
4	Antigen	Substance that induces antibody production and interacts with it in a specific way, it stimulate the production of antibody when introduced in the body
5	Antibody	A protein substance developed on challenges by an antigen. Antibodies may be present due to previous infection, vaccination, trans-placental transfer (IgG only) or unknown idiopathic antigenic stimulation
6	Antiseptic	Agent preventing sepsis by inhibiting growth of micro-organisms, it kills and inhibits microbial growth but is not harmful to human tissue
7	Antibiotic	Organic substances produced by one species of organism that in low concentration that inhibit or destroy micro-organisms; can be bactericidal or bacteriostatic (only inhibit growth)
8	Antibacterial agents	Agents that kill or inhibits the growth of micro-organism
9	Antimicrobial agents	Chemical compounds or physical agents that are used to destroy microorganisms or to prevent their development.
10	Antiviral agents	Agents that are used to inhibit production of viruses that causes disease. Most antiviral agents are only effective while the virus is replicating
11	Antifungal agents	A drug that selectively eliminates fungal pathogens from a host with minimal toxicity to the host
12	Asepsis	A condition in which living pathogenic organisms are absent; a state of sterility
13	Antitoxin	Antibody capable of neutralizing toxin
14	Bacteraemia	The presence of bacteria in the blood. The blood is normally a sterile environment, so the detection of bacteria in the blood (most commonly accomplished by blood cultures) is always abnormal
15	Commensal	Organism with a symbiotic host relationship; the organism derives benefit and the host is unharmed
16	Culture medium	Liquid or gel designed to support the growth of microorganisms or cells or small plants. There are different types of media for growing different types of cells
17	Culture	The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium
18	Disinfection	The process of making rooms / linens / organs germ free. The common methods of disinfection are by autoclaving, boiling in water, ethylene oxide / formal dehyde gas, alcohol, iodine, phenols etc
19	Endogenous infection	Infection caused by an infectious agent already present in the body, the previous infection having been inapparent
20	Fomite	An inanimate object (as a dish, toy, book, doorknob, or clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission
21	Immunity	State of being protected against disease either by previous infection or by vaccine
22	Immunization	The process of rendering a person immune by active (toxoid, inactivated, killed organisms) or passive process
23	Immunoglobulin (Ig)	Proteins capable of acting with antigens; can be IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgM
24	Nosocomial infection	Hospital acquired infection
25	Pathogen	Any micro-organism capable of causing disease
26	Septicemia	The presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteraemia) and is often associated with severe infections
27	Susceptible host	Someone who is exposed to infections or diseases or an organism that can be affected by pathogen
28	Sterilization	The process of destroying all micro-organisms either by heat, chemical or ionizing radiation
29	Toxemia	Circulation of toxins throughout the body producing symptoms like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, hypotension, flushing tachycardia etc
30	Toxoids	A toxin without toxicity but with intact antigenicity so that when injected can produce antibodies, inactivated bacterial toxins
31	Vaccine	A suspension of live attenuated / killed infectious agent or its products / parts for achieving immunity against that infectious agent