What term describes the process of transmission of infection through various links?

What term describes the process of transmission of infection through various links?

• A. Latent infection
• B. Direct contact
• C. Chain of infection
• D. Reservoir

Answer: (C)

Transmission of infection happens through a sequence of linked steps. The term that best describes this process is the chain of infection, which includes the pathogen, its reservoir, a portal of exit, a mode of transmission, a portal of entry, and a susceptible host. Any one link can be interrupted to stop spread—hand hygiene breaks the mode of transmission, proper sterilization removes the pathogen from equipment (affecting the reservoir), and vaccination lowers the number of susceptible hosts. For context, latent infection refers to a pathogen present without symptoms, direct contact is one way a pathogen can be transmitted but not the entire process, and a reservoir is simply where the pathogen survives.

Transmission of infection happens through a sequence of linked steps. The term that best describes this process is the chain of infection, which includes the pathogen, its reservoir, a portal of exit, a mode of transmission, a portal of entry, and a susceptible host. Any one link can be interrupted to stop spread—hand hygiene breaks the mode of transmission, proper sterilization removes the pathogen from equipment (affecting the reservoir), and vaccination lowers the number of susceptible hosts. For context, latent infection refers to a pathogen present without symptoms, direct contact is one way a pathogen can be transmitted but not the entire process, and a reservoir is simply where the pathogen survives.