Infectious Disease Abbreviations

This list collects 500 infectious disease abbreviations — infection, organism and antimicrobial terms used in microbiology results and infection control. Every entry shows the full form and a plain-English meaning. One abbreviation can appear in several specialty lists when it is genuinely used in more than one area, and abbreviations with more than one common meaning get a row for each meaning. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists: write them out in full wherever possible.

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Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
14-3-3	14-3-3 protein (CSF)	Prion disease spinal fluid marker	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
3 Cs measles	three Cs of measles (cough coryza conjunctivitis)	Classic measles prodrome features	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
ABSSSI	acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection	Regulatory term for serious skin infections	Infectious Disease
ABx	antibiotics	Medicines treating bacterial infections	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
ACV	acyclovir (chart shorthand)	Herpes antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
adenoiditis	adenoiditis (infection)	Inflamed adenoids	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
AdV	adenovirus	Virus causing respiratory, eye and gut infections	Infectious Disease Laboratory
AdV-F	enteric adenovirus	Gut adenovirus types causing diarrhea	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
AFB	acid-fast bacilli	Bacteria, including TB, that hold a special stain in the lab	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
AFG	anidulafungin (chart shorthand)	Echinocandin antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
AIDS	acquired immunodeficiency syndrome	Advanced stage of HIV infection	Infectious Disease
AIDS-defining illness	AIDS-defining condition	Illness marking advanced HIV disease	Infectious Disease
AIIR	airborne infection isolation room	Negative-pressure isolation room	Nursing Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
airborne precautions	airborne precautions (isolation)	Negative-pressure room and fitted mask for airborne germs	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
AmB	amphotericin B (chart shorthand)	Broad antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
AMK	amikacin (chart shorthand)	Aminoglycoside antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
AMR	antimicrobial resistance (transplant/infection)	Resistance of microbes to treatment drugs	Infectious Disease General Medical
anaphylaxis child	pediatric anaphylaxis (presentation)	Severe allergic reaction in children	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
anti-DNase B	anti-deoxyribonuclease B	Antibody test for recent streptococcal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HAV	hepatitis A antibody	Marker of hepatitis A immunity	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
anti-HBc	hepatitis B core antibody	Marker of past or current hepatitis B infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HBe	hepatitis B e antibody	Antibody appearing as hepatitis B activity falls	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HBs	hepatitis B surface antibody	Protective antibody after vaccination or recovery	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HCV	hepatitis C antibody	Screening marker for hepatitis C exposure	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
ANUG	acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis	Painful destructive gum infection	General Medical Infectious Disease
AOM	acute otitis media	Sudden infection of the middle ear	General Medical Infectious Disease Pediatrics
Argyll Robertson	Argyll Robertson pupil	Pupil reacting to near but not light, classically syphilis	Neurology Infectious Disease
ARS	acute rhinosinusitis	Short-term sinus inflammation	General Medical Infectious Disease
ART	antiretroviral therapy	Combination medicines suppressing HIV	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
ASO	antistreptolysin O	Antibody showing recent streptococcus infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Musculoskeletal
ASO titer	antistreptolysin O titer	Blood level showing recent strep infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
AstV	astrovirus	Diarrhea-causing virus	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
ataxia telang	ataxia telangiectasia (genetic)	Balance disorder with immune deficiency	Pediatrics Neurology Infectious Disease
ATG	antithymocyte globulin (induction)	T-cell depleting induction drug	Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders Surgery Infectious Disease
atopic march	atopic march (progression)	Eczema to food allergy to asthma progression	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Respiratory
ATS/IDSA criteria	ATS/IDSA severe CAP criteria	Major and minor criteria for severe pneumonia	Respiratory Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
Augmentin	co-amoxiclav	Combination penicillin antibiotic, brand name Augmentin	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
AZM	azithromycin (chart shorthand)	Macrolide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
baked milk	baked milk/egg ladder (tolerance)	Heated forms tolerated in some allergies	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
Bands	band cells	Immature neutrophils released early during infection	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
BCG	Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine	Vaccine used against tuberculosis	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
BCID	blood culture identification panel	Rapid molecular panel naming organisms from positive blood cultures	Laboratory Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
BCx	blood culture	Test growing germs from a blood sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
BCYE	buffered charcoal yeast extract agar	Culture medium for Legionella bacteria	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
BDG	beta-D-glucan	Fungal marker in blood for invasive fungal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
BK	BK virus (transplant)	Virus injuring transplant kidneys	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Laboratory
BK nephropathy	BK nephropathy (graft disease)	Virus-caused transplant kidney injury	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
blaKPC	blaKPC gene	Gene encoding the KPC carbapenemase	Laboratory Infectious Disease
blaNDM	blaNDM gene	Gene encoding the NDM carbapenemase	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Blasto Ag	Blastomyces antigen	Test for blastomycosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
bleach baths	bleach baths (eczema care)	Dilute bleach soaks reducing skin bacteria	Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease
blueberry muffin	blueberry muffin baby (sign)	Purple skin spots of congenital infection or blood disease	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Hematology & Oncology
Boston criteria	Boston criteria (febrile infant)	Low-risk febrile infant criteria set	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
breakthrough varicella	breakthrough varicella (vaccinated case)	Mild chickenpox despite vaccination	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
bronchiolitis	bronchiolitis (diagnosis)	Viral wheezing illness of babies — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
BSI	bloodstream infection	Infection with germs present in the blood	Infectious Disease
buccal cellulitis	buccal cellulitis (cheek infection)	Cheek infection of young children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
bullous impetigo	bullous impetigo (blistering type)	Blistering staph skin infection of babies	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
bundle care	care bundle (infection prevention)	Grouped prevention practices	Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease General Medical
BV	bacterial vaginosis	Vaginal condition from bacterial imbalance	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
C&S	culture and sensitivity	Test identifying germs and which antibiotics affect them	Laboratory Infectious Disease
C. diff	Clostridioides difficile	Bacterium causing severe diarrhoea, often after antibiotics	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
C. diff precautions	Clostridioides difficile precautions	Soap-and-water and sporicidal cleaning precautions	Nursing Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
C. diff toxin	Clostridioides difficile toxin assay	Stool test for C. difficile infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
CA-MRSA	community-associated MRSA	MRSA strain arising outside hospitals	Infectious Disease
CAP	community-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection caught outside hospital	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CAS	caspofungin (chart shorthand)	Echinocandin antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CAUTI	catheter-associated urinary tract infection	Urine infection linked to a urinary catheter	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Nursing
cavernous thrombosis	cavernous sinus thrombosis (infection)	Infected clot in the eye-side vein network	Neurology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
CAZ	ceftazidime (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CCHF	Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever	Tick-borne hemorrhagic fever virus	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CD4	CD4 T cell	Immune cell counted in HIV care	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	United States public health agency	General Medical Infectious Disease
CDI	Clostridioides difficile infection	Bowel infection with the C. difficile bacterium	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
CDV	cidofovir (chart shorthand)	Broad antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CEC	cefaclor (chart shorthand)	Oral second-generation cephalosporin shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Ceftriax	ceftriaxone	Cephalosporin antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
cellulitis child	periorbital cellulitis (childhood)	Eyelid infection of children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
CFM	cefixime (chart shorthand)	Oral third-generation cephalosporin shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CFU	colony-forming unit	Count of viable bacteria or fungi in a sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CHIKV	chikungunya virus	Mosquito-borne virus causing fever and joint pain	Infectious Disease Laboratory
cholesteatoma	cholesteatoma (ear)	Skin growth in the middle ear	Pediatrics Surgery Infectious Disease
chorio	chorioamnionitis (shorthand)	Infection of the waters and membranes shorthand	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
CIP	ciprofloxacin (chart shorthand)	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Cipro	ciprofloxacin	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
circumoral pallor	circumoral pallor (scarlet fever sign)	Pale ring around the mouth in scarlet fever	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
CISNE	Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia	Risk score for apparently stable febrile neutropenia	Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
CJD	Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease	Rare fatal prion disease causing rapid dementia	Neurology Infectious Disease
CLABSI	central line-associated bloodstream infection	Blood infection linked to a central line	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
CLI	clindamycin (chart shorthand)	Lincosamide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
cloudy effluent	cloudy effluent (PD peritonitis sign)	Milky drained fluid signaling PD infection	Renal & Nephrology Nursing Infectious Disease
CLR	clarithromycin (chart shorthand)	Macrolide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CMV	cytomegalovirus	Common herpes-family virus, serious in weak immunity	Infectious Disease
CMV colitis	cytomegalovirus colitis	CMV infection of the colon in immunocompromised patients	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
CMV congenital	congenital CMV (infection)	Cytomegalovirus infection at birth	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Neurology
CMV transplant	CMV (transplant monitoring)	Cytomegalovirus watching after transplant	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Laboratory
Cocci Ab	Coccidioides antibody	Test for valley fever	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
cocooning	cocooning (pertussis protection strategy)	Vaccinating contacts around a newborn	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
cohorting	cohorting (infection control)	Grouping patients with the same infection together	Nursing Infectious Disease
COM	chronic otitis media (diagnosis)	Longstanding middle ear disease	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
condyloma child	condyloma (wart)	Genital wart finding needing evaluation in children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
conj	conjunctivitis (shorthand)	Inflammation of the eye surface membrane shorthand	General Medical Infectious Disease
CoNS	coagulase-negative staphylococci	Skin staph species that often contaminate cultures but can infect devices	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Contact prec	contact precautions	Measures against germs spread by touch	Infectious Disease Nursing
contact precautions	contact precautions (isolation)	Gowns and gloves for germs spread by touch	Nursing Infectious Disease
COVID-19	coronavirus disease 2019	Illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, often affecting the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CPE	carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales	Bacteria making enzymes that destroy carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CPT	ceftaroline (chart shorthand)	Anti-MRSA cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CRAB	carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii	Bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CrAg	cryptococcal antigen	Rapid test for cryptococcal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
CRB-65	CRB-65 score	Community version of the pneumonia severity score	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CRE	carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales	Gut bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CRO	ceftriaxone (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CRS	chronic rhinosinusitis	Long-lasting sinus inflammation	General Medical Infectious Disease
CRS	congenital rubella syndrome	Birth defects caused by rubella infection during pregnancy	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
CSF VDRL	CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Spinal fluid syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
CSOM	chronic suppurative otitis media	Long-term middle ear infection with discharge	General Medical Infectious Disease
Ct value	cycle threshold value	PCR cycles needed for detection, reflecting viral amount	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CTX	cefotaxime (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
D+R-	donor positive recipient negative (mismatch)	Highest-risk CMV mismatch pairing	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Surgery
DAA	direct-acting antiviral	Hepatitis C cure drug class	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders Gastroenterology
dacryocystitis	dacryocystitis (tear sac)	Infected tear sac	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
DAIDS	Division of AIDS table (toxicity grading)	Adverse event grading table used in trials	Infectious Disease Hematology & Oncology
DAP	daptomycin (chart shorthand)	Lipopeptide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
ddPCR	droplet digital PCR	Highly sensitive DNA counting technique	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
delayed cord sep	delayed cord separation (sign)	Stump attached beyond three weeks, an immune clue	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
delayed prescription	delayed antibiotic prescription (strategy)	Wait-and-see antibiotic approach	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
DENV	dengue virus	Mosquito-borne virus causing dengue fever	Infectious Disease Laboratory
desquamation	desquamation (peeling phase)	Skin peeling after scarlet fever or Kawasaki	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
DFA	direct fluorescent antibody	Rapid antigen test using fluorescent labeled antibodies	Laboratory Infectious Disease
DiGeorge	DiGeorge syndrome (22q11)	Chromosome 22 deletion syndrome	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
discitis	discitis (childhood)	Spinal disc inflammation in children	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease
DOR	doripenem (chart shorthand)	Carbapenem antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
DOT	directly observed therapy	Watching a patient take each medicine dose	Infectious Disease Nursing
DOX	doxycycline (chart shorthand)	Tetracycline antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Doxy	doxycycline	Tetracycline antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
DR-TB	drug-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to one or more standard drugs	Infectious Disease Respiratory
droplet precautions	droplet precautions (isolation)	Mask for germs spread in large droplets	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
DTaP	diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine	Childhood vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
DTaP	DTaP (childhood formulation)	Childhood diphtheria tetanus pertussis vaccine	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
early-onset sepsis	early-onset sepsis (newborn)	Infection in the first days of life	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
EBNA	Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen	Antibody appearing later after mono infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
EBOV	Ebola virus	Filovirus causing hemorrhagic fever outbreaks	Infectious Disease Laboratory
EBV	Epstein-Barr virus	Virus causing glandular fever	Infectious Disease
EBV VCA	Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen	Antibody target in mono testing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
ecthyma	ecthyma (deeper impetigo)	Ulcerated deeper skin infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
eczema	atopic dermatitis (diagnosis)	Itchy allergic skin condition — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
eczema herpeticum	eczema herpeticum (complication)	Herpes spreading over eczema — complication	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
EHEC	enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli	Type of E. coli that can cause bloody diarrhoea and kidney complications	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay	Lab test using antibodies to detect substances	Laboratory Infectious Disease
EMB	ethambutol (chart shorthand)	Core tuberculosis drug shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
enteric precautions	enteric precautions	Precautions for stool-spread infections	Nursing Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
EOS calculator	early-onset sepsis calculator (Kaiser)	Risk calculator guiding newborn antibiotics	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
epiglottitis	acute epiglottitis (diagnosis)	Swollen airway flap emergency — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
ERY	erythromycin (chart shorthand)	Macrolide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
ESBL	extended-spectrum beta-lactamase	Enzyme making bacteria resistant to many antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
ETP	ertapenem (chart shorthand)	Once-daily carbapenem chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
EV	enterovirus	Gut virus group including hand-foot-and-mouth disease	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
EV-D68	enterovirus D68	Enterovirus linked to severe respiratory illness and weakness in children	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Neurology
EVD	Ebola virus disease	Serious viral illness that can cause bleeding and organ failure	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
exit site	exit site infection (PD catheter)	Skin infection where the PD tube exits	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Nursing
FEP	cefepime	Cephalosporin antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
FeverPAIN	FeverPAIN score	Sore throat antibiotic decision score	Infectious Disease Vitals & Assessment
fifth disease	fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)	Slapped-cheek viral illness	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
fit test	fit test (respirator)	Check that a respirator seals to the face	Nursing Infectious Disease
FLU	fluconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
food allergy	food allergy (diagnosis)	Immune reaction to a food — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
Forchheimer	Forchheimer spots (rubella sign)	Soft palate spots in rubella	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
FOS	foscarnet (chart shorthand)	Second-line CMV antiviral shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
FOS	fosfomycin (chart shorthand)	Single-dose urinary antibiotic shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
FTA	fluorescent treponemal antibody	Confirmatory syphilis test family	Laboratory Infectious Disease
FTA-ABS	fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption	Confirmatory syphilis blood test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
full workup	full sepsis workup (infant phrase)	Blood, urine, spinal fluid and cultures evaluation	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
FUO	fever of unknown origin	Persistent fever without a found cause	General Medical Infectious Disease
GAS	group A Streptococcus	Bacterium causing throat and skin infections	Infectious Disease
GBS	group B Streptococcus	Bacterium carried in pregnancy that can infect newborns	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
GC	gonococcus	Bacterium causing gonorrhoea	Infectious Disease
GCS	group C Streptococcus	Strep group causing throat and soft tissue infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
GCV	ganciclovir (chart shorthand)	CMV antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
GEN	gentamicin (chart shorthand)	Aminoglycoside antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
GGS	group G Streptococcus	Strep group causing skin and bloodstream infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
gingivostomatitis	herpetic gingivostomatitis (mouth)	Painful mouth herpes of toddlers	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
GM	galactomannan	Aspergillus marker in blood or lung fluid	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
GMS	Gomori methenamine silver stain	Silver stain highlighting fungi in tissue	Laboratory Infectious Disease
H. pylori	Helicobacter pylori	Stomach bacterium linked to ulcers	Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
H. pylori Ag	Helicobacter pylori stool antigen	Stool test for stomach H. pylori infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
HA-MRSA	healthcare-associated MRSA	MRSA strain linked to healthcare settings	Infectious Disease
HAART	highly active antiretroviral therapy	Combination medicines suppressing HIV	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
HAI	healthcare-associated infection	Infection acquired during medical care	General Medical Infectious Disease Nursing
hand-foot-mouth	hand-foot-and-mouth disease (diagnosis)	Coxsackie mouth and limb rash — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
HAP	hospital-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection developing during a hospital stay	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HAV	hepatitis A virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type A	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBeAg	hepatitis B e antigen	Marker of high hepatitis B infectivity	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBIG	hepatitis B immune globulin	Antibody injection given after hepatitis B exposure	Infectious Disease
HBoV	human bocavirus	Respiratory virus found in children	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HBsAg	hepatitis B surface antigen	Marker found in blood during hepatitis B infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HBV	hepatitis B virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type B	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBV DNA	hepatitis B virus DNA	Viral level guiding hepatitis B treatment	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HCAI	healthcare-associated infection	Infection acquired during medical care	Infectious Disease Nursing
HCAP	healthcare-associated pneumonia	Older term for pneumonia linked to healthcare exposure	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HCoV	human coronavirus	Coronavirus family infecting humans	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HCV	hepatitis C virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HCV RNA	hepatitis C virus RNA	Viral level confirming active hepatitis C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HDV	hepatitis D virus	Virus causing liver inflammation only in people with hepatitis B	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HepA	hepatitis A vaccine	Vaccine against hepatitis A	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
HepB	hepatitis B vaccine	Vaccine against hepatitis B	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
herpangina	herpangina (diagnosis)	Painful back-of-mouth blisters — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
herpetic whitlow	herpetic whitlow (finger)	Herpes infection of a finger	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
hesitancy	vaccine hesitancy (term)	Delay or refusal despite vaccine availability	Pediatrics Infectious Disease General Medical
heterophile Ab	heterophile antibody	Antibody detected by the monospot test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HEV	hepatitis E virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, spread mainly through contaminated water	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HH	hand hygiene	Cleaning hands to prevent infection spread	Infectious Disease Nursing
HHV-6	human herpesvirus 6 (roseola)	Roseola virus	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
Hib	Haemophilus influenzae type b	Bacterium that can cause serious infections in young children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
Hib	Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine	Childhood vaccine against a bacterial infection	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
Histo Ag	Histoplasma antigen	Urine or blood test for histoplasmosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
HIV	human immunodeficiency virus	Virus that attacks the immune system	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HIV VL	HIV viral load	Amount of HIV RNA guiding treatment response	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HLH	hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (diagnosis)	Overactive immune syndrome — diagnosis	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
hMPV	human metapneumovirus	Respiratory virus similar to RSV	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
HPeV	human parechovirus	Virus causing sepsis-like illness in young infants	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HPV	human papillomavirus	Virus causing warts and linked to cancers	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
HRZE	isoniazid rifampicin pyrazinamide ethambutol	WHO-style shorthand for the four-drug TB regimen	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
HSV	herpes simplex virus	Virus causing cold sores and genital herpes	Infectious Disease
HSV esophagitis	herpes simplex virus esophagitis	Herpes infection of the esophagus in weakened immunity	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HSV PCR	herpes simplex virus PCR	Swab or fluid test for herpes infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
HSV workup neonate	neonatal HSV evaluation (workup)	Testing a sick newborn for herpes	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
HSV-1	herpes simplex virus type 1	Herpesvirus most often causing cold sores around the mouth	Infectious Disease
HSV-2	herpes simplex virus type 2	Herpesvirus most often causing genital herpes	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
hVISA	heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph population partly resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HZ	herpes zoster	Medical term for shingles	Infectious Disease Neurology
IAI	intraamniotic infection	Infection inside the womb during pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
ID	infectious disease	Illness caused by germs, or the specialty treating them	Infectious Disease
IgA	immunoglobulin A	Antibody protecting mucosal surfaces like the gut	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
IgE	immunoglobulin E	Antibody involved in allergy	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
IgG	immunoglobulin G	Most common antibody type in blood	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgM	immunoglobulin M	First antibody type made in a new infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgM anti-HAV	IgM hepatitis A antibody	Marker of acute hepatitis A	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgM anti-HBc	IgM hepatitis B core antibody	Marker of recent hepatitis B infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IGRA	interferon-gamma release assay	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
IGRA child	interferon-gamma release assay (childhood)	TB blood test — childhood	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
immunization catch-up	catch-up immunization (schedule)	Making up missed vaccines — schedule	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
immunization SIDS	immunization (no SIDS link)	Vaccination not linked to sleep deaths — counseling	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Nursing
impetigo	impetigo (diagnosis)	Honey-crusted skin infection — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
INH	isoniazid	Antibiotic medicine used against tuberculosis	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
INSTI	integrase strand transfer inhibitor	HIV drug class blocking viral integration	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
IPM	imipenem (chart shorthand)	Carbapenem antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
IPV	inactivated poliovirus vaccine	Injected polio vaccine using killed virus	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
IRIS	immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome	Worsening inflammation as immunity recovers after HIV treatment starts	Infectious Disease
ISA	isavuconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Isolation	isolation precautions	Measures separating infectious patients to protect others	Infectious Disease Nursing
ITC	itraconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
IVAC	infection-related ventilator-associated complication	Ventilator deterioration with signs of infection	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
IVIG	intravenous immune globulin (treatment)	Antibody infusion treatment — treatment	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders Neurology Infectious Disease
JCV	JC virus (antibody/PML)	Virus linked to PML brain infection	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
Kawasaki	Kawasaki disease (diagnosis)	Childhood vessel inflammation — diagnosis	Pediatrics Cardiology Infectious Disease
KOH	potassium hydroxide preparation	Microscopy prep dissolving tissue to reveal fungi	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Koplik	Koplik spots (measles sign)	White mouth spots before measles rash	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
KPC	Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase	Resistance enzyme in some gut bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
L-AmB	liposomal amphotericin B	Lipid form of amphotericin B gentler on kidneys	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
LA-MRSA	livestock-associated MRSA	MRSA strain linked to animal contact	Infectious Disease
labyrinthitis	labyrinthitis (diagnosis)	Inner ear inflammation with hearing loss — diagnosis	Neurology Infectious Disease
LAMP	loop-mediated isothermal amplification	Rapid DNA amplification used in point-of-care tests	Laboratory Infectious Disease
LASV	Lassa virus	Rodent-borne hemorrhagic fever virus	Infectious Disease Laboratory
late-onset sepsis	late-onset sepsis (NICU)	Infection after the first days in NICU babies	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
Levo	levofloxacin	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
LEX	cephalexin (chart shorthand)	First-generation oral cephalosporin shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
LIA	line immunoassay	Strip-based antibody confirmation test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
LP child	lumbar puncture (childhood)	Spinal tap — childhood	Pediatrics Neurology Infectious Disease
LRINEC	Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis	Score supporting diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infection	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Laboratory
LRTI	lower respiratory tract infection	Infection of the airways or lungs, such as bronchitis or pneumonia	Respiratory Infectious Disease
LTBI	latent tuberculosis infection	Dormant TB infection with no symptoms or spreading	Respiratory Infectious Disease
LTBI treatment	latent tuberculosis infection treatment	Preventive therapy for sleeping TB infection	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
LVX	levofloxacin (chart shorthand)	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Lymph	lymphocytes	White cells central to immune defence	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
LZD	linezolid (chart shorthand)	Oxazolidinone antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
M protein	M protein (streptococcal surface protein)	Strep surface protein determining type and virulence	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MAC	Mycobacterium avium complex	Group of bacteria that can infect lungs, mainly in weak immunity	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MAC prophylaxis	Mycobacterium avium complex prophylaxis	Preventive antibiotics in advanced HIV	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
maintenance bundle	line maintenance bundle (care)	Routine line care practice set	Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease
MALDI-TOF	matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight	Mass spectrometry method rapidly identifying microbes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MARV	Marburg virus	Filovirus related to Ebola	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MASCC	Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer score	Low-risk score for febrile neutropenia	Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
mastitis	mastitis (lactation)	Breast infection while nursing — lactation	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease Nursing
mastitis neonate	neonatal mastitis (infection)	Breast infection in a newborn	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
mastoidectomy	mastoidectomy (procedure)	Removing infected mastoid bone	Surgery Infectious Disease
MBC	minimum bactericidal concentration	Lowest antibiotic level that kills a bacterium	Laboratory Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
mcr-1	mobilized colistin resistance 1	Plasmid gene conferring colistin resistance	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MCV4	meningococcal conjugate vaccine	Vaccine protecting against certain meningococcal infections	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
MDR-TB	multidrug-resistant tuberculosis	TB that does not respond to the two main TB medicines	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MDRO	multidrug-resistant organism	Germ resistant to several antimicrobial medicines	Infectious Disease
MDRO precautions	multidrug-resistant organism precautions	Extra precautions for resistant bacteria	Nursing Infectious Disease
mecA	mecA gene	Gene conferring methicillin resistance in staph	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MEM	meropenem	Carbapenem antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
MenACWY	meningococcal ACWY vaccine	Vaccine against four meningococcal groups	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
MenB	meningococcal B vaccine	Serogroup B meningitis vaccine	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
MERS	Middle East respiratory syndrome	Serious viral lung illness caused by a coronavirus	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MERS-CoV	Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus	Coronavirus causing severe respiratory illness	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
Metro	metronidazole	Antibiotic and antiprotozoal medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
MFG	micafungin (chart shorthand)	Echinocandin antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
MIC	minimum inhibitory concentration	Lowest drug concentration that stops a germ growing in the lab	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MIN	minocycline (chart shorthand)	Tetracycline antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
MIS-C	multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (diagnosis)	Post-COVID inflammatory syndrome — diagnosis	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease Cardiology
MLST	multilocus sequence typing	Gene-based bacterial strain typing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MMR	measles, mumps and rubella vaccine	Combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
MMRV	measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine	Vaccine protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
mNGS	metagenomic next-generation sequencing	Unbiased sequencing identifying pathogens from a sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MOE	malignant otitis externa	Invasive skull-base ear infection in diabetes	General Medical Infectious Disease Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
molluscum	molluscum contagiosum (lesion)	Pearly wart-like spots of childhood	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
MRSA	methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria resistant to common antibiotics	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MRSE	methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis	Resistant skin staph infecting lines and devices	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MSSA	methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria treatable with standard antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MTB	Mycobacterium tuberculosis	The bacterium that causes tuberculosis	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MTZ	metronidazole (chart shorthand)	Anaerobic and protozoal antibiotic shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
MXF	moxifloxacin (chart shorthand)	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
N95	N95 respirator	Fitted mask filtering airborne particles	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
NAAT	nucleic acid amplification test	Lab test detecting genetic material of germs	Laboratory Infectious Disease
NAT	nucleic acid testing	DNA/RNA detection used in blood donor screening	Laboratory Infectious Disease Hematology & Oncology
NDM	New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase	Resistance enzyme in some bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Neut	neutrophils	Most common white cells, first responders to infection	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
neutropenic precautions	neutropenic precautions (protective)	Protecting a patient with very low white cells	Nursing Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
NGU	nongonococcal urethritis	Inflammation of the urethra not caused by gonorrhoea	Infectious Disease Renal & Nephrology
Nikolsky	Nikolsky sign (skin)	Skin sliding with gentle rubbing — sign	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
nirsevimab	nirsevimab (RSV antibody)	Long-acting RSV antibody for infants	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
NIT	nitrofurantoin (chart shorthand)	Urinary antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease Renal & Nephrology
NNRTI	non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor	HIV drug class	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
NoV	norovirus	Leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
nPEP	non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis	HIV prevention after community exposure	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
NRTI	nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor	HIV drug backbone class	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
NTM	nontuberculous mycobacteria	Mycobacteria other than TB that can infect the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
OE	otitis externa	Infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal	General Medical Infectious Disease
OI	opportunistic infection	Infection taking advantage of a weakened immune system	Infectious Disease
OM	osteomyelitis	Infection inside a bone	Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease
OM	otitis media	Infection or inflammation of the middle ear	General Medical Infectious Disease Pediatrics
omphalitis	omphalitis (cord infection)	Infected umbilical stump	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
omphalitis child	omphalitis (infection)	Cord stump infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
oPEP	occupational post-exposure prophylaxis	HIV prevention after a workplace exposure	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
OPV	oral poliovirus vaccine	Polio vaccine given by mouth	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
oral food challenge	oral food challenge (procedure)	Supervised feeding test for allergy — procedure	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
orbital	orbital cellulitis (emergency)	Eye socket infection emergency	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
OSE	oseltamivir (chart shorthand)	Influenza antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
otorrhea tube	tube otorrhea (drainage)	Ear drainage through a tube	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
OXA-48	OXA-48 carbapenemase	Carbapenem-destroying enzyme type	Infectious Disease Laboratory
palivizumab	palivizumab (RSV antibody)	Monthly RSV antibody for high-risk infants	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
PANDAS	pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus	Strep-linked abrupt OCD and tic hypothesis	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry Infectious Disease
PAPR	powered air-purifying respirator	Battery-powered filtered air hood for high-risk care	Nursing Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
paroxysmal cough	paroxysmal coughing (pertussis stage)	Burst coughing stage of whooping cough	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
partial workup	partial sepsis workup (infant phrase)	Evaluation without spinal fluid testing	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
parvo B19	parvovirus B19 (infection)	Fifth disease virus — infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
PAS	periodic acid-Schiff stain	Stain highlighting fungi and basement membranes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Pastia	Pastia lines (scarlet fever sign)	Rash darkening in skin folds	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
PCN	penicillin	Original penicillin antibiotic class	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
PCP	Pneumocystis pneumonia	Fungal lung infection seen mainly in weak immunity	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PCR	polymerase chain reaction	Lab method copying DNA to detect germs or genes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
PCV	pneumococcal conjugate vaccine	Childhood vaccine against pneumococcal bacteria	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
PDR	pan-drug-resistant	Organism resistant to all tested antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
PECARN febrile	PECARN febrile infant rule	Low-risk febrile baby criteria	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
PEP	post-exposure prophylaxis	Medicine taken after exposure to prevent infection	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
peritonitis PD	PD peritonitis (infection)	Belly lining infection in PD	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
pertussis	pertussis (whooping cough diagnosis)	Whooping cough — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
PFGE	pulsed-field gel electrophoresis	Older DNA fingerprinting method for outbreak tracing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Philadelphia criteria	Philadelphia criteria (febrile infant)	Low-risk febrile infant criteria set	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
PI	protease inhibitor (HIV)	HIV drug class blocking viral protein cutting	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
PID	pelvic inflammatory disease	Infection of the uterus, tubes and ovaries	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pip-tazo	piperacillin-tazobactam	Broad combination antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
PIV	parainfluenza virus	Croup-causing respiratory virus group	Infectious Disease Respiratory Pediatrics Laboratory
PJI	prosthetic joint infection	Infection around an artificial joint	Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease
PJP	Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia	Lung infection occurring mainly in people with weakened immunity	Infectious Disease Respiratory
PK enhancer	pharmacokinetic enhancer	Booster drug raising levels of HIV medicines	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
PNA	pneumonia	Infection inflaming the air sacs of the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
POS	posaconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
postherpetic	postherpetic neuralgia (diagnosis)	Pain after shingles — diagnosis	Neurology Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
PPD	purified protein derivative	Substance used in the skin test for tuberculosis	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PPE	personal protective equipment	Gloves, masks and gowns protecting against infection	Infectious Disease Nursing General Medical
PrEP	pre-exposure prophylaxis	Medicine taken before exposure to prevent HIV	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
prophylaxis	antimicrobial prophylaxis (transplant)	Preventive anti-infection medicines — transplant	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
PSGN	post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis	Kidney inflammation after strep infection	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
PSI2	Pneumonia Severity Index (Port score)	Detailed pneumonia mortality prediction score	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PTLD	post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (diagnosis)	Lymphoma-like overgrowth after transplant — diagnosis	Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease Surgery
PVAP	possible ventilator-associated pneumonia	Surveillance category combining ventilator deterioration and lab evidence	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
PVL	Panton-Valentine leukocidin	Toxin made by some staph bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
PZA	pyrazinamide (chart shorthand)	Core tuberculosis drug shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
QFT	QuantiFERON-TB Gold	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
qSOFA	quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment	Bedside score flagging sepsis risk	Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
RADT	rapid antigen detection test	Quick swab test, as for strep throat	Laboratory Infectious Disease Pediatrics
RBV	ribavirin (chart shorthand)	Broad antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
ReA	reactive arthritis	Joint inflammation triggered by an infection elsewhere	Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease
rheumatic fever	acute rheumatic fever (diagnosis)	Post-strep inflammatory disease — diagnosis	Pediatrics Cardiology Infectious Disease
RIF	rifampin	Antibiotic medicine used against tuberculosis	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
RIG	rabies immune globulin	Antibody injection given as part of rabies post-exposure care	Infectious Disease
RIPE	rifampin isoniazid pyrazinamide ethambutol	Standard four-drug tuberculosis regimen shorthand	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
RMSF	Rocky Mountain spotted fever	Tick-borne bacterial illness causing fever and rash	Infectious Disease
Rochester criteria	Rochester criteria (febrile infant)	Low-risk young infant criteria	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
roseola	roseola infantum (exanthem)	High fever then rash illness of babies	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
rotavirus	rotavirus vaccine (oral)	Oral diarrhea-preventing vaccine	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
RoV	rotavirus	Diarrhea virus of infancy, vaccine preventable	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Pediatrics Laboratory
RPR	rapid plasma reagin	Blood screening test for syphilis	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RPR titer	rapid plasma reagin titer	Syphilis activity level followed during treatment	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RR-TB	rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to the key medicine rifampicin	Infectious Disease Respiratory
RSV	respiratory syncytial virus	Common virus causing airway and lung infections, especially in infants	Respiratory Infectious Disease
RSV immun	RSV immunization (nirsevimab)	Antibody shot protecting babies from RSV	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
RSV prophylaxis	RSV prophylaxis (eligibility)	Antibody prevention for high-risk babies	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
RT-PCR	reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction	RNA virus test, used for influenza and COVID-19	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RT-QuIC	real-time quaking-induced conversion	Highly specific prion disease test	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
rule-out sepsis	rule-out sepsis (workup phrase)	Evaluation excluding infection in a baby	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
RV	rhinovirus	Main cause of the common cold	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
RZV	recombinant zoster vaccine	Shingles vaccine for older and at-risk adults	Infectious Disease
S/CO	signal-to-cutoff ratio	Immunoassay result scale for hepatitis and HIV screening	Laboratory Infectious Disease
SA	septic arthritis	Infection inside a joint	Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
salt-and-pepper	salt-and-pepper retinopathy (congenital rubella)	Eye finding of congenital rubella	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SARS	severe acute respiratory syndrome	Serious viral lung illness caused by a coronavirus	Respiratory Infectious Disease
SARS-CoV-2	severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2	Coronavirus that causes COVID-19	Infectious Disease Respiratory
SBP	spontaneous bacterial peritonitis	Infection of abdominal fluid in liver disease	Gastroenterology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
scarlatiniform	scarlatiniform rash (sandpaper)	Sandpaper strep-like rash descriptor	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
scarlet fever	scarlet fever (diagnosis)	Strep rash illness — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SCCmec	staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec	Resistance gene cassette defining MRSA types	Laboratory Infectious Disease
scrub the hub	scrub the hub (line practice)	Disinfecting a line connection before use	Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease
sepsis workup infant	febrile infant evaluation (workup)	Testing a young febrile baby for serious infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
septic AB	septic abortion (term)	Infected miscarriage emergency	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
septic hip	septic arthritis (hip)	Infected hip joint in a child	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
serial exams sepsis	serial physical examinations (sepsis strategy)	Watching well babies instead of automatic antibiotics	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Nursing
SIC	sepsis-induced coagulopathy score	Early coagulopathy score in sepsis	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology
sinusitis child	acute bacterial sinusitis (childhood)	Persistent nasal infection of children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Respiratory
SIRS	systemic inflammatory response syndrome	Whole-body inflammatory response criteria	Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
slapped cheek	slapped cheek syndrome (parvovirus)	Bright red cheek rash illness	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SLIT allergy	sublingual immunotherapy (allergy)	Under-tongue allergy desensitization	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SMART-COP	SMART-COP score	Predicts need for intensive support in pneumonia	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
spa typing	staphylococcal protein A typing	MRSA strain typing method	Laboratory Infectious Disease
SPE	streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin	Strep toxin in scarlet fever and toxic shock	Infectious Disease Laboratory
SSI	surgical site infection	Infection at the site of an operation	Surgery Infectious Disease
SSSS	staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome	Toxin-caused skin peeling of young children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
SSTI	skin and soft tissue infection	Infection of skin and tissues beneath it	Infectious Disease Surgery
standard precautions	standard precautions (universal)	Baseline infection precautions for all patients	Nursing Infectious Disease
STD	sexually transmitted disease	Disease passed mainly through sexual contact	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology General Medical
STEC	Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli	Type of E. coli that can cause bloody diarrhoea and kidney complications	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
STEC-HUS	Shiga toxin E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome	Kidney failure syndrome after certain E. coli infection	Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Pediatrics
Step-by-Step	Step-by-Step approach (febrile infant)	European febrile infant risk approach	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
STI	sexually transmitted infection	Infection passed through sexual contact	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
strawberry tongue	strawberry tongue (sign)	Red bumpy tongue of scarlet fever and Kawasaki — sign	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
SVR	sustained virologic response	Cure endpoint after hepatitis C treatment	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
SXT	trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (chart shorthand)	Combination antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
TB	tuberculosis	Bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
TB risk questionnaire	tuberculosis risk assessment (questionnaire)	Exposure questions guiding TB testing	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
Tdap	Tdap (adolescent/adult formulation)	Tetanus diphtheria pertussis vaccine — formulation	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders
Tdap	tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine	Booster vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tdap pregnancy	Tdap in pregnancy (cocooning)	Pertussis vaccine each pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
TGC	tigecycline (chart shorthand)	Glycylcycline antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
thrush	candidal infection (nipple/infant mouth)	Yeast infection of nursing	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Infectious Disease
TMP-SMX	trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole	Combination antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
TOA	tubo-ovarian abscess	Collection of pus involving a fallopian tube and ovary, often from pelvic infection	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
TOB	tobramycin (chart shorthand)	Aminoglycoside antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
TORCH	TORCH infections (congenital group)	Congenital infection group	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
TORCH	toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes	Group of infections that can affect a baby before birth	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
TPPA	Treponema pallidum particle agglutination	Confirmatory syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
tracheitis	bacterial tracheitis (diagnosis)	Infected windpipe emergency of children — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
triple I	triple I (intrauterine inflammation/infection)	Modern term grouping womb infection and inflammation	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
TSST-1	toxic shock syndrome toxin 1	Staph toxin causing toxic shock syndrome	Infectious Disease Laboratory
TST	tuberculin skin test	Skin test for tuberculosis infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
tunnel infection PD	tunnel infection (PD catheter)	Deep infection along a PD tube track	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
tympanostomy	tympanostomy tubes (placement)	Ear ventilation tubes — placement	Pediatrics Surgery Infectious Disease
TZP	piperacillin-tazobactam	Broad combination antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
UBT	urea breath test	Breath test for H. pylori infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
UCx	urine culture	Test growing germs from a urine sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease Renal & Nephrology
URI	upper respiratory infection	Infection of the nose, throat or sinuses, such as a cold	Respiratory Infectious Disease
UTI	urinary tract infection	Infection of the bladder, urethra or kidneys	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
UTI child	febrile urinary tract infection (childhood)	Kidney infection with fever in children	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
VAE	ventilator-associated event	Surveillance term for deterioration on a ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
VAERS	Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System	Vaccine safety reporting system	Pediatrics Infectious Disease General Medical
VAN	vancomycin (chart shorthand)	Glycopeptide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
vanA	vanA gene	Gene conferring high-level vancomycin resistance in enterococci	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Vanc	vancomycin	Antibiotic medicine for serious resistant infections	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VAP	ventilator-associated pneumonia	Lung infection developing while on a breathing machine	Respiratory Infectious Disease
VAR	varicella vaccine	Vaccine protecting against chickenpox	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
varicella	varicella (chickenpox diagnosis)	Chickenpox — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
VCV	valacyclovir (chart shorthand)	Oral herpes antiviral shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VDRL	Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Blood screening test for syphilis	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VEO-IBD	very early onset inflammatory bowel disease	IBD before age six suggesting immune causes	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
verruca	verruca vulgaris (wart)	Common wart	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
VFC	Vaccines for Children (program)	Free vaccine program for eligible children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
VGCV	valganciclovir (chart shorthand)	Oral CMV antiviral shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VGS	viridans group streptococci	Mouth strep species linked to endocarditis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Cardiology
VIS	Vaccine Information Statement	Required vaccine fact sheet	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Nursing
VISA	vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria with reduced vancomycin sensitivity	Infectious Disease Laboratory
VL	viral load	Amount of virus measured in blood	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VRC	voriconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VRE	vancomycin-resistant enterococci	Gut bacteria resistant to vancomycin	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VRSA	vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Staph strain resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
VVC	vulvovaginal candidiasis	Yeast infection of the vulva and vagina	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
VZIG	varicella-zoster immune globulin	Antibody protection after chickenpox exposure	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
VZV	varicella-zoster virus	Virus causing chickenpox and shingles	Infectious Disease
VZV IgG	varicella-zoster IgG	Immunity marker for chickenpox	Laboratory Infectious Disease
watchful waiting AOM	watchful waiting (otitis strategy)	Observation option for mild ear infections	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
WBC scan	radiolabeled white blood cell scan	Nuclear scan locating infection	Radiology & Imaging Infectious Disease
WGS typing	whole genome sequencing typing	Sequencing used to trace outbreak strains	Laboratory Infectious Disease
whoop	inspiratory whoop (pertussis sign)	Gasping sound after a coughing burst	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
WNV	West Nile virus	Mosquito-borne virus tested in donors and encephalitis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Neurology
XDR	extensively drug-resistant	Organism resistant to nearly all standard antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
XDR-TB	extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to most of the main TB medicines	Respiratory Infectious Disease
YFV	yellow fever virus	Mosquito-borne virus prevented by vaccine	Infectious Disease Laboratory
ZIKV	Zika virus	Mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Infectious Disease Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

14-3-3 — 14-3-3 protein (CSF)

3 Cs measles — three Cs of measles (cough coryza conjunctivitis)

ABSSSI — acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection

ABx — antibiotics

ACV — acyclovir (chart shorthand)

adenoiditis — adenoiditis (infection)

AdV — adenovirus

AdV-F — enteric adenovirus

AFB — acid-fast bacilli

AFG — anidulafungin (chart shorthand)

AIDS — acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AIDS-defining illness — AIDS-defining condition

AIIR — airborne infection isolation room

airborne precautions — airborne precautions (isolation)

AmB — amphotericin B (chart shorthand)

AMK — amikacin (chart shorthand)

AMR — antimicrobial resistance (transplant/infection)

anaphylaxis child — pediatric anaphylaxis (presentation)

anti-DNase B — anti-deoxyribonuclease B

anti-HAV — hepatitis A antibody

anti-HBc — hepatitis B core antibody

anti-HBe — hepatitis B e antibody

anti-HBs — hepatitis B surface antibody

anti-HCV — hepatitis C antibody

ANUG — acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

AOM — acute otitis media

Argyll Robertson — Argyll Robertson pupil

ARS — acute rhinosinusitis

ART — antiretroviral therapy

ASO — antistreptolysin O

ASO titer — antistreptolysin O titer

AstV — astrovirus

ataxia telang — ataxia telangiectasia (genetic)

ATG — antithymocyte globulin (induction)

atopic march — atopic march (progression)

ATS/IDSA criteria — ATS/IDSA severe CAP criteria

Augmentin — co-amoxiclav

AZM — azithromycin (chart shorthand)

baked milk — baked milk/egg ladder (tolerance)

Bands — band cells

BCG — Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine

BCID — blood culture identification panel

BCx — blood culture

BCYE — buffered charcoal yeast extract agar

BDG — beta-D-glucan

BK — BK virus (transplant)

BK nephropathy — BK nephropathy (graft disease)

blaKPC — blaKPC gene

blaNDM — blaNDM gene

Blasto Ag — Blastomyces antigen

bleach baths — bleach baths (eczema care)

blueberry muffin — blueberry muffin baby (sign)

Boston criteria — Boston criteria (febrile infant)

breakthrough varicella — breakthrough varicella (vaccinated case)

bronchiolitis — bronchiolitis (diagnosis)

BSI — bloodstream infection

buccal cellulitis — buccal cellulitis (cheek infection)

bullous impetigo — bullous impetigo (blistering type)

bundle care — care bundle (infection prevention)

BV — bacterial vaginosis

C&S — culture and sensitivity

C. diff — Clostridioides difficile

C. diff precautions — Clostridioides difficile precautions

C. diff toxin — Clostridioides difficile toxin assay

CA-MRSA — community-associated MRSA

CAP — community-acquired pneumonia

CAS — caspofungin (chart shorthand)

CAUTI — catheter-associated urinary tract infection

cavernous thrombosis — cavernous sinus thrombosis (infection)

CAZ — ceftazidime (chart shorthand)

CCHF — Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

CD4 — CD4 T cell

CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDI — Clostridioides difficile infection

CDV — cidofovir (chart shorthand)

CEC — cefaclor (chart shorthand)

Ceftriax — ceftriaxone

cellulitis child — periorbital cellulitis (childhood)

CFM — cefixime (chart shorthand)

CFU — colony-forming unit

CHIKV — chikungunya virus

cholesteatoma — cholesteatoma (ear)

chorio — chorioamnionitis (shorthand)

CIP — ciprofloxacin (chart shorthand)

Cipro — ciprofloxacin

circumoral pallor — circumoral pallor (scarlet fever sign)

CISNE — Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia

CJD — Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

CLABSI — central line-associated bloodstream infection

CLI — clindamycin (chart shorthand)

cloudy effluent — cloudy effluent (PD peritonitis sign)

CLR — clarithromycin (chart shorthand)

CMV — cytomegalovirus

CMV colitis — cytomegalovirus colitis

CMV congenital — congenital CMV (infection)

CMV transplant — CMV (transplant monitoring)

Cocci Ab — Coccidioides antibody

cocooning — cocooning (pertussis protection strategy)

cohorting — cohorting (infection control)

COM — chronic otitis media (diagnosis)

condyloma child — condyloma (wart)

conj — conjunctivitis (shorthand)

CoNS — coagulase-negative staphylococci

Contact prec — contact precautions

contact precautions — contact precautions (isolation)

COVID-19 — coronavirus disease 2019

CPE — carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales

CPT — ceftaroline (chart shorthand)

CRAB — carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

CrAg — cryptococcal antigen

CRB-65 — CRB-65 score

CRE — carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

CRO — ceftriaxone (chart shorthand)

CRS — chronic rhinosinusitis

CRS — congenital rubella syndrome

CSF VDRL — CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

CSOM — chronic suppurative otitis media

Ct value — cycle threshold value

CTX — cefotaxime (chart shorthand)

D+R- — donor positive recipient negative (mismatch)

DAA — direct-acting antiviral

dacryocystitis — dacryocystitis (tear sac)

DAIDS — Division of AIDS table (toxicity grading)

DAP — daptomycin (chart shorthand)

ddPCR — droplet digital PCR

delayed cord sep — delayed cord separation (sign)

delayed prescription — delayed antibiotic prescription (strategy)

DENV — dengue virus

desquamation — desquamation (peeling phase)

DFA — direct fluorescent antibody

DiGeorge — DiGeorge syndrome (22q11)

discitis — discitis (childhood)

DOR — doripenem (chart shorthand)

DOT — directly observed therapy

DOX — doxycycline (chart shorthand)

Doxy — doxycycline

DR-TB — drug-resistant tuberculosis

droplet precautions — droplet precautions (isolation)

DTaP — diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine

DTaP — DTaP (childhood formulation)

early-onset sepsis — early-onset sepsis (newborn)

EBNA — Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen

EBOV — Ebola virus

EBV — Epstein-Barr virus

EBV VCA — Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen

ecthyma — ecthyma (deeper impetigo)

eczema — atopic dermatitis (diagnosis)

eczema herpeticum — eczema herpeticum (complication)

EHEC — enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

ELISA — enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMB — ethambutol (chart shorthand)

enteric precautions — enteric precautions

EOS calculator — early-onset sepsis calculator (Kaiser)

epiglottitis — acute epiglottitis (diagnosis)

ERY — erythromycin (chart shorthand)

ESBL — extended-spectrum beta-lactamase

ETP — ertapenem (chart shorthand)

EV — enterovirus

EV-D68 — enterovirus D68

EVD — Ebola virus disease

exit site — exit site infection (PD catheter)

FEP — cefepime

FeverPAIN — FeverPAIN score

fifth disease — fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)

fit test — fit test (respirator)

FLU — fluconazole (chart shorthand)

food allergy — food allergy (diagnosis)

Forchheimer — Forchheimer spots (rubella sign)

FOS — foscarnet (chart shorthand)

FOS — fosfomycin (chart shorthand)

FTA — fluorescent treponemal antibody

FTA-ABS — fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption

full workup — full sepsis workup (infant phrase)

FUO — fever of unknown origin

GAS — group A Streptococcus

GBS — group B Streptococcus

GC — gonococcus

GCS — group C Streptococcus

GCV — ganciclovir (chart shorthand)

GEN — gentamicin (chart shorthand)

GGS — group G Streptococcus

gingivostomatitis — herpetic gingivostomatitis (mouth)

GM — galactomannan

GMS — Gomori methenamine silver stain

H. pylori — Helicobacter pylori

H. pylori Ag — Helicobacter pylori stool antigen

HA-MRSA — healthcare-associated MRSA

HAART — highly active antiretroviral therapy

HAI — healthcare-associated infection

hand-foot-mouth — hand-foot-and-mouth disease (diagnosis)

HAP — hospital-acquired pneumonia

HAV — hepatitis A virus

HBeAg — hepatitis B e antigen

HBIG — hepatitis B immune globulin

HBoV — human bocavirus

HBsAg — hepatitis B surface antigen

HBV — hepatitis B virus

HBV DNA — hepatitis B virus DNA

HCAI — healthcare-associated infection

HCAP — healthcare-associated pneumonia

HCoV — human coronavirus

HCV — hepatitis C virus

HCV RNA — hepatitis C virus RNA

HDV — hepatitis D virus

HepA — hepatitis A vaccine

HepB — hepatitis B vaccine

herpangina — herpangina (diagnosis)

herpetic whitlow — herpetic whitlow (finger)

hesitancy — vaccine hesitancy (term)

heterophile Ab — heterophile antibody

HEV — hepatitis E virus

HH — hand hygiene

HHV-6 — human herpesvirus 6 (roseola)

Hib — Haemophilus influenzae type b

Hib — Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

Histo Ag — Histoplasma antigen

HIV — human immunodeficiency virus

HIV VL — HIV viral load

HLH — hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (diagnosis)

hMPV — human metapneumovirus

HPeV — human parechovirus

HPV — human papillomavirus

HRZE — isoniazid rifampicin pyrazinamide ethambutol

HSV — herpes simplex virus

HSV esophagitis — herpes simplex virus esophagitis

HSV PCR — herpes simplex virus PCR

HSV workup neonate — neonatal HSV evaluation (workup)

HSV-1 — herpes simplex virus type 1

HSV-2 — herpes simplex virus type 2

hVISA — heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

HZ — herpes zoster

IAI — intraamniotic infection

ID — infectious disease

IgA — immunoglobulin A

IgE — immunoglobulin E

IgG — immunoglobulin G

IgM — immunoglobulin M

IgM anti-HAV — IgM hepatitis A antibody

IgM anti-HBc — IgM hepatitis B core antibody

IGRA — interferon-gamma release assay

IGRA child — interferon-gamma release assay (childhood)

immunization catch-up — catch-up immunization (schedule)

immunization SIDS — immunization (no SIDS link)

impetigo — impetigo (diagnosis)

INH — isoniazid

INSTI — integrase strand transfer inhibitor

IPM — imipenem (chart shorthand)

IPV — inactivated poliovirus vaccine

IRIS — immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

ISA — isavuconazole (chart shorthand)

Isolation — isolation precautions

ITC — itraconazole (chart shorthand)

IVAC — infection-related ventilator-associated complication

IVIG — intravenous immune globulin (treatment)

JCV — JC virus (antibody/PML)

Kawasaki — Kawasaki disease (diagnosis)

KOH — potassium hydroxide preparation

Koplik — Koplik spots (measles sign)

KPC — Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase

L-AmB — liposomal amphotericin B

LA-MRSA — livestock-associated MRSA

labyrinthitis — labyrinthitis (diagnosis)

LAMP — loop-mediated isothermal amplification

LASV — Lassa virus

late-onset sepsis — late-onset sepsis (NICU)

Levo — levofloxacin

LEX — cephalexin (chart shorthand)

LIA — line immunoassay

LP child — lumbar puncture (childhood)

LRINEC — Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis

LRTI — lower respiratory tract infection

LTBI — latent tuberculosis infection

LTBI treatment — latent tuberculosis infection treatment

LVX — levofloxacin (chart shorthand)

Lymph — lymphocytes

LZD — linezolid (chart shorthand)

M protein — M protein (streptococcal surface protein)

MAC — Mycobacterium avium complex

MAC prophylaxis — Mycobacterium avium complex prophylaxis

maintenance bundle — line maintenance bundle (care)

MALDI-TOF — matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight

MARV — Marburg virus

MASCC — Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer score

mastitis — mastitis (lactation)

mastitis neonate — neonatal mastitis (infection)

mastoidectomy — mastoidectomy (procedure)

MBC — minimum bactericidal concentration

mcr-1 — mobilized colistin resistance 1

MCV4 — meningococcal conjugate vaccine

MDR-TB — multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

MDRO — multidrug-resistant organism

MDRO precautions — multidrug-resistant organism precautions

mecA — mecA gene

MEM — meropenem

MenACWY — meningococcal ACWY vaccine

MenB — meningococcal B vaccine

MERS — Middle East respiratory syndrome

MERS-CoV — Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Metro — metronidazole

MFG — micafungin (chart shorthand)

MIC — minimum inhibitory concentration

MIN — minocycline (chart shorthand)

MIS-C — multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (diagnosis)

MLST — multilocus sequence typing

MMR — measles, mumps and rubella vaccine

MMRV — measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine

mNGS — metagenomic next-generation sequencing

MOE — malignant otitis externa

molluscum — molluscum contagiosum (lesion)

MRSA — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MRSE — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

MSSA — methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

MTB — Mycobacterium tuberculosis

MTZ — metronidazole (chart shorthand)

MXF — moxifloxacin (chart shorthand)

N95 — N95 respirator

NAAT — nucleic acid amplification test

NAT — nucleic acid testing

NDM — New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase

Neut — neutrophils

neutropenic precautions — neutropenic precautions (protective)

NGU — nongonococcal urethritis

Nikolsky — Nikolsky sign (skin)

nirsevimab — nirsevimab (RSV antibody)

NIT — nitrofurantoin (chart shorthand)

NNRTI — non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor

NoV — norovirus

nPEP — non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis

NRTI — nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor

NTM — nontuberculous mycobacteria

OE — otitis externa

OI — opportunistic infection

OM — osteomyelitis

OM — otitis media

omphalitis — omphalitis (cord infection)

omphalitis child — omphalitis (infection)

oPEP — occupational post-exposure prophylaxis

OPV — oral poliovirus vaccine

oral food challenge — oral food challenge (procedure)

orbital — orbital cellulitis (emergency)

OSE — oseltamivir (chart shorthand)

otorrhea tube — tube otorrhea (drainage)

OXA-48 — OXA-48 carbapenemase

palivizumab — palivizumab (RSV antibody)

PANDAS — pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus

PAPR — powered air-purifying respirator

paroxysmal cough — paroxysmal coughing (pertussis stage)

partial workup — partial sepsis workup (infant phrase)

parvo B19 — parvovirus B19 (infection)

PAS — periodic acid-Schiff stain

Pastia — Pastia lines (scarlet fever sign)

PCN — penicillin

PCP — Pneumocystis pneumonia

PCR — polymerase chain reaction

PCV — pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

PDR — pan-drug-resistant

PECARN febrile — PECARN febrile infant rule

PEP — post-exposure prophylaxis

peritonitis PD — PD peritonitis (infection)

pertussis — pertussis (whooping cough diagnosis)

PFGE — pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Philadelphia criteria — Philadelphia criteria (febrile infant)

PI — protease inhibitor (HIV)

PID — pelvic inflammatory disease

Pip-tazo — piperacillin-tazobactam

PIV — parainfluenza virus

PJI — prosthetic joint infection

PJP — Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

PK enhancer — pharmacokinetic enhancer

PNA — pneumonia

POS — posaconazole (chart shorthand)

postherpetic — postherpetic neuralgia (diagnosis)

PPD — purified protein derivative

PPE — personal protective equipment

PrEP — pre-exposure prophylaxis

prophylaxis — antimicrobial prophylaxis (transplant)

PSGN — post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

PSI2 — Pneumonia Severity Index (Port score)

PTLD — post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (diagnosis)

PVAP — possible ventilator-associated pneumonia

PVL — Panton-Valentine leukocidin

PZA — pyrazinamide (chart shorthand)

QFT — QuantiFERON-TB Gold

qSOFA — quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment

RADT — rapid antigen detection test

RBV — ribavirin (chart shorthand)

ReA — reactive arthritis

rheumatic fever — acute rheumatic fever (diagnosis)

RIF — rifampin

RIG — rabies immune globulin

RIPE — rifampin isoniazid pyrazinamide ethambutol

RMSF — Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rochester criteria — Rochester criteria (febrile infant)

roseola — roseola infantum (exanthem)

rotavirus — rotavirus vaccine (oral)

RoV — rotavirus

RPR — rapid plasma reagin

RPR titer — rapid plasma reagin titer

RR-TB — rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis

RSV — respiratory syncytial virus

RSV immun — RSV immunization (nirsevimab)

RSV prophylaxis — RSV prophylaxis (eligibility)

RT-PCR — reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

RT-QuIC — real-time quaking-induced conversion

rule-out sepsis — rule-out sepsis (workup phrase)

RV — rhinovirus

RZV — recombinant zoster vaccine

S/CO — signal-to-cutoff ratio

SA — septic arthritis

salt-and-pepper — salt-and-pepper retinopathy (congenital rubella)

SARS — severe acute respiratory syndrome

SARS-CoV-2 — severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

SBP — spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

scarlatiniform — scarlatiniform rash (sandpaper)

scarlet fever — scarlet fever (diagnosis)

SCCmec — staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec

scrub the hub — scrub the hub (line practice)

sepsis workup infant — febrile infant evaluation (workup)

septic AB — septic abortion (term)

septic hip — septic arthritis (hip)

serial exams sepsis — serial physical examinations (sepsis strategy)

SIC — sepsis-induced coagulopathy score

sinusitis child — acute bacterial sinusitis (childhood)

SIRS — systemic inflammatory response syndrome

slapped cheek — slapped cheek syndrome (parvovirus)

SLIT allergy — sublingual immunotherapy (allergy)

SMART-COP — SMART-COP score

spa typing — staphylococcal protein A typing

SPE — streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin

SSI — surgical site infection

SSSS — staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

SSTI — skin and soft tissue infection

standard precautions — standard precautions (universal)

STD — sexually transmitted disease

STEC — Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

STEC-HUS — Shiga toxin E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome

Step-by-Step — Step-by-Step approach (febrile infant)

STI — sexually transmitted infection

strawberry tongue — strawberry tongue (sign)

SVR — sustained virologic response

SXT — trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (chart shorthand)

TB — tuberculosis

TB risk questionnaire — tuberculosis risk assessment (questionnaire)

Tdap — Tdap (adolescent/adult formulation)

Tdap — tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine

Tdap pregnancy — Tdap in pregnancy (cocooning)

TGC — tigecycline (chart shorthand)

thrush — candidal infection (nipple/infant mouth)

TMP-SMX — trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

TOA — tubo-ovarian abscess

TOB — tobramycin (chart shorthand)

TORCH — TORCH infections (congenital group)

TORCH — toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes

TPPA — Treponema pallidum particle agglutination

tracheitis — bacterial tracheitis (diagnosis)

triple I — triple I (intrauterine inflammation/infection)

TSST-1 — toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

TST — tuberculin skin test

tunnel infection PD — tunnel infection (PD catheter)

tympanostomy — tympanostomy tubes (placement)

TZP — piperacillin-tazobactam

UBT — urea breath test

UCx — urine culture

URI — upper respiratory infection

UTI — urinary tract infection

UTI child — febrile urinary tract infection (childhood)

VAE — ventilator-associated event

VAERS — Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

VAN — vancomycin (chart shorthand)

vanA — vanA gene

Vanc — vancomycin

VAP — ventilator-associated pneumonia

VAR — varicella vaccine

varicella — varicella (chickenpox diagnosis)

VCV — valacyclovir (chart shorthand)

VDRL — Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

VEO-IBD — very early onset inflammatory bowel disease

verruca — verruca vulgaris (wart)

VFC — Vaccines for Children (program)

VGCV — valganciclovir (chart shorthand)

VGS — viridans group streptococci

VIS — Vaccine Information Statement

VISA — vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

VL — viral load

VRC — voriconazole (chart shorthand)

VRE — vancomycin-resistant enterococci

VRSA — vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

VVC — vulvovaginal candidiasis

VZIG — varicella-zoster immune globulin

VZV — varicella-zoster virus

VZV IgG — varicella-zoster IgG

watchful waiting AOM — watchful waiting (otitis strategy)

WBC scan — radiolabeled white blood cell scan

WGS typing — whole genome sequencing typing

whoop — inspiratory whoop (pertussis sign)

WNV — West Nile virus

XDR — extensively drug-resistant

XDR-TB — extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

YFV — yellow fever virus

ZIKV — Zika virus

Printed from https://www.medicalvideos.com/medical-abbreviations/infectious/ · Full searchable guide: https://www.medicalvideos.com/medical-abbreviations/ · Educational reference only — verify against your institution's approved list.

Infectious Disease Abbreviations

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