infectious disease n a disease caused by the entrance into the body of organisms (as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, or viruses) which grow and multiply there see COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
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a disease caused by a pathogenic microorganism, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and multicellular parasites; it may be transmitted from another host or arise from the host's indigenous microflora. See also infection and communicable d.Medical dictionary. 2011.