(The occurrence of) viable microorganisms on a surface, object, etc.; (also) the numbers of such organisms, especially as a measure of the biological risk presented.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Spacecraft Sterilization Technology.
Definition of bioburden in US English:
bioburden
nounˈbʌɪə(ʊ)bəːdn
(The occurrence of) viable microorganisms on a surface, object, etc.; (also) the numbers of such organisms, especially as a measure of the biological risk presented.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Spacecraft Sterilization Technology.