Infection is the invasion, colonization, and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—within a host, together with the host's biological responses to that process. The outcome of an infection reflects the dynamic interaction between pathogen virulence factors and host defens…
Infection is the invasion, colonization, and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—within a host, together with the host's biological responses to that process. The outcome of an infection reflects the dynamic interaction between pathogen virulence factors and host defenses, ranging from asymptomatic carriage to localized disease and systemic, life-threatening illness. Pathogens are transmitted by diverse routes, including respiratory droplets, fecal-oral spread, vector-borne, bloodborne, and direct-contact pathways, and the host responds through innate and adaptive immune and inflammatory mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates that contribute to microbial killing. Co-infection, in which a host harbors more than one pathogen simultaneously, can alter immune status, disease severity, and clinical management, as illustrated by interactions between malaria and HIV and the depletion of CD4+ T cells. Immunosuppression and disrupted barriers predispose to opportunistic infection, including invasive fungal disease such as mucormycosis. Surgical and procedural care carries the risk of healthcare-associated infection, including surgical site infection. Infection prevention and control (IPC)—encompassing hand hygiene, sterilization, isolation, surveillance, and protection of healthcare workers—is central to limiting transmission in clinical and community settings. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research on parasitic and protozoan infections, co-infection, infection prevention and control, and opportunistic fungal infection.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 82 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Infection, linking to each citing work.