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In biology, a pathogen (Greek: πάθος, pathos "suffering", "passion" and -γενής, -genēs "producer of"), in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ. [1] The term pathogen came into use in the 1880s.
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. [1] An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable disease, is an illness resulting from an infection.
Types of infectious agents Agent Description Microorganisms: Microorganisms, or microbes are extremely diverse microscopic organisms, including archaea and bacteria, which are commonly grown and studied in laboratories and can infect laboratory animals and laboratory workers. Viruses
An infectious disease agent can be transmitted in two ways: as horizontal disease agent transmission from one individual to another in the same generation (peers in the same age group) [3] by either direct contact (licking, touching, biting), or indirect contact through air – cough or sneeze (vectors or fomites that allow the transmission of the agent causing the disease without physical ...
Epstein–Barr virus infectious mononucleosis (Mono) Diagnostic modalities for infectious mononucleosis include: Person's age, with highest risk at 10 to 30 years. Medical history, such as close contact with other people with infectious mononucleosis; Physical examination, including palpation of any enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, or enlarged ...
Infectious diseases are diseases caused by biological agents, which can be transmitted to others, rather than by genetic, physical or chemical agents. This definition includes disease caused by viruses , bacteria , parasites , fungi and prions .
Pathogenic bacteria are also the cause of high infant mortality rates in developing countries. [5] A GBD study estimated the global death rates from (33) bacterial pathogens, finding such infections contributed to one in 8 deaths (or ~7.7 million deaths), which could make it the second largest cause of death globally in 2019. [6] [3]
Dissemination can be either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue {5 μm or smaller in size} of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and ...