chain of infection
Medical term Infection Control and Safety
The six linked steps needed for an infection to spread: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host.
Sources
Related terms
- infectionInvasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms in the body, causing disease.
- portal of entryThe route by which a pathogen enters a new host.
- portal of exitThe route by which a pathogen leaves its reservoir.
- reservoirThe place where a pathogen lives and multiplies, such as a person, animal or surface.
- susceptible hostA person at risk of becoming infected.
- airborne transmissionSpread of pathogens in tiny particles or droplet nuclei that stay suspended in the air.
- antibodyA protein made by the immune system that targets a specific antigen; also called an immunoglobulin.
- antigenA substance the immune system recognizes as foreign, which can trigger antibody production.
- bloodborne pathogensMicroorganisms in human blood that can cause disease, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus and…
- contact precautionsGown and gloves for patients with infections spread by touch, such as MRSA or C. difficile.