Endogenous infection

Abstract

Endogenous infection was first proposed by Escherlich in 1889 as infection induced by a normal flora, which exists in the body. One case of herpes zoster in the face simultaneously associated with pulmonary tuberculosis was observed, and its mechanism of occurrence has been under investigation sionce then. Finally, a new general broad interpretation of endogenous infection has been developed. Endogenous infection falls into two categories. The first is infection caused by normal flora, which originally exists in the body. The second is infection caused by latent pathogens which have invaded into the body at a previous infection, whose occurrence depends on the host's condition. The latter type includes herpes zoster and endogenous activation tuberculosis. The causes of endogenous infection exist mainly in the hosts. Therefore, investigation of the causes of endogenous infection requires hostology. © 1990, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.