Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

What is the role of the portal of exit in the chain of infection?

1. It helps diagnose the infection source

2. It allows the infectious agent to escape its reservoir

3. It prevents the transmission to a susceptible host

4. It neither allows nor prevents transmission

The correct answer is: It allows the infectious agent to escape its reservoir

The portal of exit plays a crucial role in the chain of infection by facilitating the escape of the infectious agent from its reservoir. This concept is significant in understanding how infections spread. The reservoir is the natural habitat of the infectious agent, where it thrives and multiplies. For an infection to occur, the agent must exit the reservoir through a specific route, such as respiratory secretions, blood, or other bodily fluids. Understanding this function underscores the importance of infection control measures, as limiting or blocking the portal of exit can reduce the possibility of transmission to new hosts, thereby managing the spread of infectious diseases. It also highlights the need to identify which portals are typically used by various pathogens, allowing for targeted interventions in healthcare settings and communities to break the chain of infection.