die  Infektion

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɪnfɛkˈt͡si̯oːn/

🦠 What exactly is an Infektion?

Die Infektion (plural: die Infektionen) refers to the invasion and multiplication of pathogens (like Viren - viruses, Bakterien - bacteria, Pilze - fungi, or Parasiten - parasites) within an organism (e.g., Mensch - human, Tier - animal, Pflanze - plant). This can trigger an immune system response and lead to an Infektionskrankheit (infectious disease), but it doesn't necessarily have to cause symptoms (this is called an inapparent or silent infection).

The word is always feminine, so the correct article is die.

⚠️ Attention: An Infektion is not the same as an Entzündung (inflammation), although an infection often causes inflammation as a defense reaction.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Infektion

The noun „Infektion“ is feminine. The article is „die“.

Example Sentences 📝

• Die Infektion breitete sich schnell aus. (The infection spread quickly.)
• Der Arzt diagnostizierte eine bakterielle Infektion. (The doctor diagnosed a bacterial infection.)
• Zum Schutz vor Infektionen sollte man sich regelmäßig die Hände waschen. (To protect against infections, one should wash hands regularly.)
• Die Symptome deuten auf eine schwere Infektion hin. (The symptoms indicate a severe infection.)

🗣️ Everyday Usage

The term „Infektion“ is primarily used in medical and biological contexts. Common examples include:

• Virusinfektion / virale Infektion (viral infection, e.g., Grippe - flu, COVID-19)
• Bakterielle Infektion (bacterial infection, e.g., Lungenentzündung - pneumonia caused by bacteria, Blasenentzündung - cystitis)
• Pilzinfektion (fungal infection, e.g., Fußpilz - athlete's foot)
• Wundinfektion (wound infection, entry of germs into a wound)
• Tröpfcheninfektion (droplet infection, transmission via coughing, sneezing)
• Schmierinfektion (smear infection, transmission via touching contaminated surfaces)

Typical verbs used with Infektion are:

• sich mit etwas infizieren (to get infected with something)
• eine Infektion bekommen / erleiden / haben (to get / suffer from / have an infection)
• eine Infektion verursachen / hervorrufen (to cause an infection)
• eine Infektion verbreiten / übertragen (to spread / transmit an infection)
• eine Infektion behandeln / bekämpfen (to treat / fight an infection)
• einer Infektion vorbeugen (to prevent an infection)

In a broader sense, „Infektion“ can be used metaphorically, e.g., the 'infection' with an idea or enthusiasm, but this is rare.

💡 Mnemonics for Infektion

Mnemonic for the article (die):

Many German medical terms and nouns ending in -ion are feminine: die Infektion, die Operation (operation), die Reanimation (resuscitation), die Desinfektion (disinfection). Think of the suffix -ion often indicating a feminine noun (like in English, but more consistently in German for these types of words).

Mnemonic for the meaning (infection):

Infektion sounds very similar to the English word infection. They share the same Latin root and core meaning. Easy to remember!

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Caution: Do not confuse with die Injektion (injection) or die Inspektion (inspection).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer eine Infektion bekommen?
... Weil er zu viele Cookies akzeptiert und keine Firewall hatte! 🍪🔥💻

(Why did the computer get an infection?
... Because it accepted too many cookies and didn't have a firewall!)

📜 A Short Poem

Ein Niesen hier, ein Husten dort,
So reist die Infektion fort.
Ein kleiner Keim, unsichtbar klein,
Dringt in den Körper heimlich ein.
Das Immunsystem ruft zur Wehr,
Bekämpft die Feinde, immer mehr.
Drum wasch die Hände, halt Abstand, bleib gesund,
So meisterst du die nächste Stund'.

(A sneeze here, a cough there,
Thus travels the infection far.
A tiny germ, invisibly small,
Secretly enters the body's wall.
The immune system calls to fight,
Battling the foes with all its might.
So wash your hands, keep distance, stay well,
Thus you'll master the next spell.)

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich komme unsichtbar und klein,
Schleich mich in deinen Körper ein.
Mal bring ich Fieber, mal nur Schnupfen,
Kann durch die Luft und Hände hupfen.
Man will mich loswerden, bekämpfen,
Und meine Ausbreitung dämpfen.

Was bin ich?

(I come invisible and small,
I sneak into your body's thrall.
Sometimes I bring fever, sometimes just a cold,
Through air and hands, my story's told.
People want to get rid of me, fight back,
And dampen my spreading track.

What am I?)
(Answer: die Infektion / the infection)

🌐 More Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The German word „Infektion“ comes from the Latin word infectio, meaning 'contamination', 'staining', or 'poisoning'. It derives from the verb inficere ('to put into', 'to taint', 'to infect').

Compound Words: „Infektion“ is often part of compound nouns (Komposita) to specify the type or location of the infection:

• Infektionskrankheit (infectious disease)
• Infektionsschutz (infection control/protection)
• Infektionsquelle (source of infection)
• Infektionsrisiko (risk of infection)
• Infektionsherd (focus/seat of infection)
• Infektionswelle (wave of infection)
• Virusinfektion (viral infection)
• Harnwegsinfektion (urinary tract infection - UTI)