Load
Load (medicine)
Load (/loʊd/), in the context of medicine, refers to the quantity or volume of a particular substance present in the body. It is often used to describe the amount of a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, or a drug in the body at a given time.
Etymology
The term 'load' originates from the Old English 'lād', which means 'way, course, carrying'. In the medical context, it has been used since the late 20th century to describe the quantity of a substance in the body.
Related Terms
- Viral Load: The amount of virus in a person's blood. It is a key indicator of the progress of viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.
- Bacterial Load: The quantity of bacteria present in a patient's body. It is often used to assess the severity of bacterial infections.
- Drug Load: The amount of a drug or medication present in the body after administration. It is used to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapies and to prevent overdose.
- Bioburden: The number of microorganisms on a surface before sterilization. It is a critical factor in infection control in healthcare settings.
- Pathogen Load: The total amount of pathogens present in an organism. It is a measure of the severity of an infection.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Load
- Wikipedia's article - Load
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