An infection that is confined to a single site or tissue is referred to as what type of infection?

A localized infection is one that remains at a single site or within a specific tissue, as opposed to spreading throughout the body. This type of infection typically manifests symptoms and causes effects that are confined to the area of infection, making it more straightforward to identify and treat. For instance, a skin infection such as a boil or an abscess clearly illustrates a localized infection, as it is contained to the skin and surrounding tissue.

Other terms like systemic, focal, and mixed refer to different patterns of infection. A systemic infection, for example, spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream, affecting multiple organ systems. A focal infection can involve a specific area that may eventually become systemic if not addressed, while a mixed infection implies the presence of multiple pathogens causing infection at the same or different sites. Each of these terms describes different dynamics of infection, reinforcing the clarity of the definition of a localized infection.