The 6 Links of The Chain of Infection
1 Infectious Agent
The infectious agent is the pathogen (germ) that causes the disease.
The reservoir is the place in the environment where the pathogen lives. This includes people, animals and insects, medical equipment, your countertop or any object in your home, soil and water. The portal of exit is the way the infectious agent leaves the reservoir. This could be through open wounds, aerosols, and the splatter of body fluids including coughing, sneezing, and saliva. The means of transmission is the way the infectious agent can be passed on. This could be through direct contact like touching, ingestion into the stomach, or inhalation into the nasal cavity or lungs. The portal of entry is the way the infectious agent can enter a new host. This can be through broken skin, the respiratory tract (nose or lungs), mucous membranes (including the urine), and catheters and tubes. A susceptible host is one who is susceptible to disease and a deterioration to their general health if the organism grows and passes around their body. A susceptible person may be someone lacking immunity or physical resistance to infections.
2 Reservoir
3 Portal of Exit
4 Transmission
5 Portal of Entry
6 The Host
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