noun
- infection of an organism by parasites or pathogens that originate from within its own body, often through reinfection or internal transmission
Usage: medical/parasitology term; commonly used in clinical and research contexts
Examples
- Pinworm autoinfection occurs when eggs are ingested after contaminating the hands.
- The patient's autoinfection with Strongyloides was managed through careful hygiene protocols.
- Autoinfection can perpetuate parasitic infections if the life cycle is not interrupted.
- Doctors warned that scratching could lead to autoinfection with the fungal pathogen.
- The study examined rates of autoinfection in immunocompromised individuals.