Relating to or affected by sepsis (infection), or containing disease-causing bacteria. In plumbing contexts, refers to systems that treat sewage using bacterial decomposition.
From Greek 'septikos' meaning 'putrefying,' from 'sepein' (to rot). The medical meaning developed first, with the sewage treatment sense emerging in the 20th century as understanding of beneficial bacteria grew.
The irony of 'septic' is that septic systems use 'good' bacteria to break down waste, while septic infections involve 'bad' bacteria causing disease. This dual meaning reflects our evolving understanding that bacteria can be both beneficial partners and dangerous enemies in different contexts.
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