Glossary

E

endemic

“Endemic” means for example in epidemiology that a disease is constantly at an elevated level in a particular region or population.

Endotoxin

Endotoxins are part of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and trigger immune reactions in human.

Enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteriaceae are a family of bacteria that includes many gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology investigates the occurrence and distribution of diseases within the population. Moreover, molecular biology techniques are used in molecular epidemiology.

Epitope

An epitope is a small area (molecular segment) on the surface of an antigen that can elicit a specific immune response.

Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) can cause infectious mononucleosis and is responsible for different cancers.

ESBL

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are bacterial enzymes that render certain antibiotics ineffective and make bacteria multidrug-resistant.

Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a gram-negative bacterium. Some strains are pathogenic, others do not cause disease.

ESKAPE

This abbreviation is used in infectiology to describe six frequently occurring multi-resistant hospital pathogens.

Evidence

Evidence is the transparency of a relation.