Putting science
at the heart of development
Definitions
A directory of terms related to antibiotic treatment, useful for discussing the development of antibiotic resistance. (Sources: Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, Union of Concerned Scientists, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
C
Colonisation
Colonisation occurs when a new species of bacteria develops a colony (a group of the same type of bacteria) in a new location, such as the human intestinal tract. Bacteria can colonise a host without causing infection or disease.
Commensal
Usually refers to a microorganism that lives in close contact with a host organism (human, animal or plant) without causing disease in the host. Commensal organisms can be beneficial to the host. Some microorganisms can be a commensal for one host species but cause disease in another.
.jpg){kind=spacer}
