Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

What components are included in the chain of infection?

1. Infectious agent and disease symptoms

2. Transmission and recovery process

3. Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

4. Reservoir, disease threshold, and host immunity

The correct answer is: Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

The chain of infection is a concept used to describe how infections are spread, and it consists of several critical components that illustrate this process. The correct choice includes the following elements: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Each component plays a specific role in the cycle of infection. The infectious agent refers to the pathogen (bacteria, virus, fungus, etc.) responsible for causing a disease. The reservoir is the natural host or habitat where the infectious agent lives and multiplies, such as humans, animals, or the environment. The portal of exit is the route through which the pathogen leaves the reservoir, which could include respiratory droplets, blood, or bodily fluids. The mode of transmission describes how the infectious agent is transferred from one host to another, which can happen through direct contact, airborne transmission, or vector-borne methods. The portal of entry is the way the pathogen enters a new host, similar to the exit route, such as through mucous membranes or broken skin. Finally, the susceptible host is the new individual who may become infected, often due to weakened immune defenses or lack of prior exposure. By understanding this entire chain of infection, health professionals can develop strategies to break one