Question

DESCRIBE THE CHAIN OF INFECTION

Answer 1

THE CHAIN OF INFECTION

A sequence of episodes that occur microorganisms to cause infections in a person is known as a chain of infection.

The chain of infection is linked as follows:

• Reservoir

The reservoir is the site where the microorganism survives and multiply which can be a person, furniture or the health care equipment

• Portal of exit.

The portal of exit is the door through which the microorganism gets out of the reservoir. Examples of portals are stools, vomit, blood, saliva, and even when a person coughs. It differs in each infection.

• The mode of transmission

​​​​​​​The microorganism travels or spread from one place to another by the mode of transmission. One of the several ways is health workers' hands handling infected medical equipment.

• Portal of entry

​​​​​​​Through the portal of entry microorganisms from the reservoir reach the person (the ‘host’). This can happen through wounds and cuts, by swallowing food or breathing infected air.

• The host

​​​​​​​The host can be people with low immunity like kids, old age, those who are ill or taking immunosuppressive medications, diabetes, and malnourished ones.

• The agent

​​​​​​​The microorganism that causes the infection is the agent.