reinfectionn.
/ˌriːɪnˈfɛkʃn/, U.S. /ˌriᵻnˈfɛkʃ(ə)n/ Repeated infection, esp. with the same pathogenic organism; an instance of this.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [noun] > infection > recurrent
reinfection1661
superinfection1893
1661 T. Whitaker Questions Problematical French Pest in Elenchus of Opinions Cure of Small Pox 117 This remedy.., though it doth seemingly cure the disease, yet it will not preserve them from reinfection.
1754 J. Kirkpatrick Anal. Inoculation v. 119 Our first Proof of the Security of Persons who had formerly the Disease, from a Re-infection by Art, was prudently made.
1794 B. Rush Med. Inq. & Observ.: Acct. of Bilious Remitting Yellow Fever III. 111 Cases of reinfection were very common during the prevalence of this fever.
1850 Lancet 24 Aug. 232/2 Removal of them from the system..would give immunity from re-infection.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 741 Recurrences are extremely common; and they are not always reinfections.
1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) xxxvi. 1038 Later the pus may become sterile and a Bartholinian cyst may remain, which is always liable to reinfection.
1972 Contemp. Lit. 13 427 Svidrigailov's first subtle corruption of the child has as its effect that she shall become capable of inciting and corrupting him as if by reinfection.
2002 Guardian 13 July (Weekend Suppl.) 83/3 Replace the soil and soak the area with Armillatox (cresylic acid) to reduce the chance of re-infection.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1661