incubation period
Medical term Infection Control and Safety
The time between entry of a pathogen into the body and the first symptoms.
Sources
Related terms
- pathogenA microorganism that causes disease.
- fomiteAn object or surface that can carry pathogens from one person to another.
- fungusAn organism from the kingdom Fungi; some fungi cause infections.
- healthcare-associated infectionAn infection a patient acquires while receiving health care.
- herd immunityProtection of a community when enough people are immune to a disease to limit its spread.
- medical asepsisClean technique: practices that reduce the number and spread of microorganisms.
- N95 respiratorA tight-fitting respirator that filters very small airborne particles; it must be fit-tested.
- occupational exposureReasonably anticipated contact with blood or OPIM that may result from an employee's job duties.
- passive immunityImmunity from antibodies received from another source, such as an injection of antibodies.