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risk of infection

risk of infection

8 3.3
The chance of catching a disease after contact with germs
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : riesgo de infección
  • To minimize the risk of infection, it is important to wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with sick individuals.
  • increased risk of infection
  • higher risk of infection
  • reduce the risk of infection

But the latest summary of all the studies shows that proper mask wearing does reduce risk of infection significantly.

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Examples

  • Standard hospital practice is to place premature twins in separate incubators to reduce the risk of infection.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Many cancer chemotherapies that target nucleotide metabolism also cause immunosuppression, increasing the risk of infection in cancer patients.

    Academic text (2016)
  • And what would you say now that people should be doing to limit the risk of infection to themselves and others?

  • The risk of infection is too great.

  • Due to risk of infection, you cannot be allowed to leave the city.

  • One challenge for parents of children undergoing cancer treatment is the risk of infection.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Burns always carry a risk of infection, and antibiotics may be required.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But the latest summary of all the studies shows that proper mask wearing does reduce risk of infection significantly.

    ZOE
  • With the use of a lead wire that exits the body, there is a risk of infection.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Transmission is influenced by human behavior, and certain sexual behaviors increase the risk of infection.

    Academic text (1993)

Antonyms

immunity
  • Specialized
101 3.5

Protection from disease because the body fights the germ

Surface Forms

Morphology

risk + of + infection

The meaning 'likelihood of becoming infected' is directly and compositionally derived from 'risk' (probability/danger) combined with 'infection' (illness), with 'of' serving as a standard linking preposition. This noun + of + noun pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Risk of infection gives a clear picture: tiny germs close to a cut or a person, and each touch could start illness, so the risk is how likely the infection will happen. That's why it means 'the chance of becoming infected'.