Infectious Diseases Factors and Transmission Quiz

Factors Affecting Disease Potential

• Virulence, infectivity, and pathogenicity are factors that affect an organism's potential to produce disease.
• Host factors, such as age, immune status, and underlying health conditions, also impact an organism's potential to produce disease.

Stages of Infection

• The stages of infection are: exposure, infection, colonization, disease, and transmission.

Modes of Transmission

• Modes of transmission for pathogens include: direct contact, indirect contact, airborne, and vector-borne transmission.
• Vertical transmission, from mother to child, is also a mode of transmission.

Reservoirs for Pathogens

• Reservoirs for pathogens include: humans, animals, environment, and fomites.

Portals of Entry for Pathogens

• Portals of entry for pathogens include: skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract.

Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI)

• Healthcare acquired infections (HAI) are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving healthcare.
• Examples of HAI include: surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia.

Prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI)

• Hand hygiene is the #1 prevention for healthcare acquired infections (HAI).

Chain of Infection

• The chain of infection consists of: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Types of Pathogens

• Prions are the smallest pathogens, consisting of abnormally folded proteins.
• Other types of pathogens include: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.