diphtheroid
/ˈdɪfθəˌrɔɪd/
adjective
- Resembling or related to diphtheria, especially in appearance or symptoms.
- The lab report described diphtheroid bacteria that were not causing illness.
- The doctor noted a diphtheroid membrane in the patient's throat.
- Some skin infections can appear diphtheroid but are actually harmless.
noun
- A bacterium that resembles the diphtheria bacillus but does not cause diphtheria.
- The infection was caused by a diphtheroid, not the actual diphtheria bacterium.
- Diphtheroids are often found on healthy human skin.
- The culture grew a diphtheroid, which the technician identified as a harmless contaminant.