Pyogenic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌpaɪ.əˈdʒɛnɪk/

Definitions

1. Describing infections that result in pus formation, this term also relates to the inflammatory responses initiated by bacteria involved in such processes
2. This adjective refers to conditions associated with pus generation, highlighting the role of bacterial infections in eliciting inflammation
3. Characterizing conditions that lead to the production of pus, this descriptor also pertains to the inflammatory reactions that arise from bacterial infections causing such outcomes

Etymology: "Pyogenic" is a technical coinage built from two Greek elements: "pyo-", from Greek "pyon", meaning "pus", and "-genic", from Greek "-genes", meaning "producing" or "born of." Put together, the word literally means "pus-producing," and it describes infections whose hallmark is the formation of pus. Its meaning has widened somewhat beyond the purely descriptive. The term also covers the inflammatory reactions set off by the bacteria that cause such infections, so a pyogenic bacterium is one that tends to trigger pus-forming responses in the body. Staphylococcus and streptococcus are classic examples. The "-genic" ending is a productive one in medical vocabulary, appearing in words like "carcinogenic" and "pathogenic," and "pyogenic" follows the same pattern. Like most such terms, it was assembled from classical roots by modern medical writers rather than used by ancient Greek physicians, who had their own words for suppuration.

Synonyms: pus-forming