self-infection

Catching your own germs

Self-infection is the process of infecting oneself with a pathogen, whether accidentally or deliberately.

In medical contexts, it typically refers to transferring an infection from one part of the body to another, such as spreading bacteria from a wound to the eyes by touching.

The term also covers cases where someone reinfects themselves with a parasite or pathogen they already harbor.

The patient's self-infection occurred when she touched her cold sore and then rubbed her eye.

laboratory

deliberate

Consciously chosen, not accidental

experimentalTesting new methods
inoculationInjection conferring disease resistance
pathogenDisease-causing microorganism

culture · specimen · researcher · vaccine · clinical · trial · ethics · historical · injection · exposure

medical

contamination

Introduction of impurities

woundCoiled, or an injury
pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms

virus · parasite · lesion · transmission · inoculation · sepsis · abscess · carrier · immunocompromised · hygiene

psychological

compulsion

Irresistible urge to act

disorderAbsence of organization
contaminationIntroduction of impurities
deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental

psychiatric · Munchausen · factitious · behavior · intervention · therapy · excoriation · sabotage · attention-seeking · pathological

Opposites

source of infection

self-infectioncross-infection

Pathogen transfer between individuals

contagion · nosocomial infection · airborne transmission

Family

self, infection, infect, infected, infecting, infects, infectious, infectiously, infectiousness

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