Superinfection

A superinfection is a second infection superimposed on an earlier one, especially by a different microbial agent of exogenous or endogenous origin, that is resistant to the treatment being used against the first infection.<ref>

Superinfection(link). {{{website}}}. Merriam-Webster Inc..

</ref> Examples of this in bacteriology are the overgrowth of endogenous Clostridium difficile which occurs following treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and pneumonia or sepsis from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in some immunocompromised patients.<ref>

Treatment of neutropenic fever syndromes in adults with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients (high-risk patients)(link). www.uptodate.com.

Accessed 2016-02-09.

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In virology, the definition is slightly different. Superinfection is the process by which a cell that has previously been infected by one virus gets co-infected with a different strain of the virus, or another virus, at a later point in time.<ref>

HIV types, subtypes groups and strains: Is it possible to be infected more than once?(link). {{{website}}}. AVERT.

</ref> Viral superinfections may be resistant to the antiviral drug or drugs that were being used to treat the original infection. Viral superinfections may also be less susceptible to the host's immune response.<ref>

What do we know about HIV superinfection?(link). {{{website}}}. University of California, San Francisco. May 2006.

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See also

• Antibiotic resistance
• Opportunistic infection
• Coinfection
• HIV superinfection
• Reassortment