infekterat

Infekterat is a Swedish term meaning infected. In medical contexts it describes tissue, wounds, organs, or specimens that are contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms and show evidence of infection. It is the past participle of infektera.

The term denotes infection rather than colonization or mere contamination and is used for humans and animals. It commonly appears in descriptions of wounds, postoperative sites, abscesses, urinary tract infections, and other infectious processes.

Causes include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Pathogens can reach tissue through breaks in the skin or mucosa, invasive devices, or blood. Host factors such as age, diabetes, immune suppression, and poor wound care increase risk.

Diagnosis relies on clinical signs—redness, warmth, swelling, pain, pus—and laboratory tests such as culture, Gram stain, PCR, and inflammatory markers. Imaging may reveal deeper infection or abscesses.

Treatment combines local and systemic measures. Local care includes cleaning, debridement, drainage, and appropriate dressings. Systemic antibiotics are guided by culture results when possible; empiric therapy may be used for severe cases and is adjusted as data return.

Prognosis improves with timely management, but infections can cause complications such as chronic wounds or sepsis if diagnosis or treatment is delayed. Prevention focuses on good wound care, aseptic procedures, infection control, and prudent antibiotic use.