superinfection: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “superinfection” mean?
A second infection that occurs during or after treatment for a different initial infection, often caused by resistant organisms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A second infection that occurs during or after treatment for a different initial infection, often caused by resistant organisms.
In computing, a situation where a system already infected by malware becomes infected by a second, different malware. In a broader metaphorical sense, an overwhelming or compounding of problems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Usage is consistent across medical communities.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both varieties, associated with treatment complications and antibiotic resistance.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, confined to medical and technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “superinfection” in a Sentence
superinfection (with [pathogen])superinfection (following [treatment])superinfection (of [site/organ])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “superinfection” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient was superinfected with a resistant strain.
American English
- The compromised system was superinfected by a new worm.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in use.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in use.]
adjective
British English
- Superinfection risk is a serious concern in long-term antibiotic therapy.
American English
- The superinfection event complicated the patient's recovery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and virology papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be explained if used.
Technical
Core usage in medicine, microbiology, and cybersecurity (for computer viruses).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “superinfection”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “superinfection”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “superinfection”
- Misspelling as 'super infection' (two words). The standard is one word.
- Using it to mean any severe infection, rather than one specifically following treatment/another infection.
- Pronouncing it with stress on 'super' (/ˈsuːpərɪnˌfekʃən/) instead of on '-fect'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A co-infection is when two infections occur simultaneously from the start. A superinfection is a new infection that occurs sequentially, often because treatment for the first infection created an opportunity.
Yes, the term is used in virology (e.g., viral superinfection of a cell) and metaphorically in fields like cybersecurity to describe a system being infected by multiple, distinct malware programs.
In medicine, the most common cause is antibiotic therapy, which kills normal, protective bacteria (flora), allowing resistant or opportunistic organisms like Candida or Clostridioides difficile to overgrow.
Prevention strategies include using antibiotics only when necessary (antibiotic stewardship), choosing narrow-spectrum antibiotics when possible, and maintaining good hygiene and infection control practices.
A second infection that occurs during or after treatment for a different initial infection, often caused by resistant organisms.
Superinfection is usually technical / medical in register.
Superinfection: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsuːpərɪnˈfekʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsupərɪnˈfekʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. Term is literal.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'super' (over) infection placed on top of an existing one, like a villain overpowering another villain in a movie.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFECTION IS A LAYER / INFECTION IS AN OPPRESSOR (one infection dominating or taking advantage of the weakened state caused by another).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of a superinfection?