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Infectious agent
The disease-producing microorganism.
Reservoir
The source of pathogenic microorganisms, which can be human, animal, plant, soil, air, or water.
Mode of escape
How the pathogenic microorganism leaves the reservoir, which could be through coughing, sneezing, and contamination of surfaces.
Mode of transmission
The method by which the infectious agent travels from person to person, typically via hands, contaminated equipment, and environmental factors.
Portal of entry
The points through which pathogenic microorganisms enter a susceptible host, such as mucous membranes, blood, and surgical sites.
Susceptible hosts
Individuals, such as patients and healthcare workers, who can become infected by microorganisms.
Resistance to infection
Factors influencing an individual's ability to resist infection, including the immune system and asymptomatic carriers.
Sanitation
A process that reduces total bacterial contamination to a safe handling level.
Decontamination
The removal of contaminants by chemical or physical means.
Disinfection
The elimination of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms from inanimate objects.
Low-level disinfectants
Disinfectants that can kill some but not all vegetative bacteria and fungi.
Intermediate-level disinfectants
Agents that can kill most gram-negative bacteria and fungi but may have variable success against spores.
High-level disinfectants
Disinfectants capable of killing all microorganisms except spores.
Sterilization
The complete destruction or inactivation of all forms of microorganisms.
Denatured
Structurally altered substances that typically result in death of the organism.
