Secondary infections

Definition

A secondary infection is an infection that occurs during or after treatment of a primary infection. It may result from the treatment itself or from alterations in the immune system.

For example, a yeast infection that occurs after antibiotic treatment of a bacterial infection is a secondary infection. The development of bacterial pneumonia following a viral upper respiratory infection is another example.

Johns Hopkins patient information

Last revised: December 4, 2012
by Amalia K. Gagarina, M.S., R.D.

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