Glossary
Bacterium – the singular form of bacteria; a single-celled organism that has a cell wall but no cell organelleMalaise – a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease
Koch’s postulates – Four criteria designed to establish a causative relationship between an organism and a disease
Immunocompromised – a state of compromised immune system, either due to disease or due to medications
Sepsis – a potentially fatal whole body inflammation caused by an infection
Septic shock – sepsis with fall in BP and failure of perfusion of tissues
ELISA – Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay, a test to identify antibodies or antigens
PCR – Polymerase Chain Reaction, a test that amplifies DNA to detect the source of DNA
Thalassemia – a group of diseases caused by faulty hemoglobin synthesis
Pathognomonic – characteristic of a particular disease
