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acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
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a group of conditions associated with immune system dysfunction caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
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adaptive immunity
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the body’s organism-specific defenses against infection
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anti-infective stewardship
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the process of using anti-infectives judiciously to prevent drug resistance
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antibiogram
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a document detailing local bacterial resistance patterns that is used to guide antibiotic choices
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antiretroviral therapy (ART)
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medications designed to treat infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
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apoptosis
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programmed cell death, usually due to cellular damage
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bactericidal
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the ability to directly kill bacteria
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bacteriostatic
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having the property of preventing bacteria from actively replicating, although not killing them directly
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helminths
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worms capable of causing parasitic infections
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human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
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retrovirus that causes progressive immune system dysfunction
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immunocompromised
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the state in which the immune system is unable to effectively prevent infection
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innate immunity
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the body’s nonspecific defenses against infection
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parasitic infection
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infection caused by parasites—organisms that derive nutrition from their host while causing it harm
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protozoa
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unicellular organisms capable of causing parasitic infections
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sexually transmitted infection (STI)
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infections passed on via sexual forms of contact
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superinfection
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infection caused by resistant bacteria after the use of broad-spectrum anti-infectives
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tuberculosis (TB)
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a pulmonary infection caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
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viral load
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the number of viral particles measured in a sample of body fluid or tissue (usually blood)
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virologic cure
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sustained undetectable viral levels in the blood