Definition of "superinfection" []

• The act or process of superinfecting a cell or organism. (noun)
• An infection following a previous infection, especially when caused by microorganisms that have become resistant to the antibiotics used earlier. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "It is clear that this anti-parasite treatment can result in improvement of patients 'elephantiasis and hydrocoele (especially in the early stages of disease), but the most significant treatment advance to alleviate the suffering of those with elephantiasis has come from recognizing that much of the progression in pathology results from bacterial and fungal "superinfection" of tissues with compromised lymphatic function caused by earlier filarial infection."
• "If more than one virus enters the cell, it would be a waste, as only one can replicate once inside, and many viruses have ways to prevent this "superinfection"."
• "People with hepatitis B virus infection may contract hepatitis D virus at the same time (co-infection), or can contract hepatitis D virus after already developing chronic hepatitis B virus infection (superinfection)."