DefinitionIntermediate
What are the six main components of the chain of infection as described in the chapter?
The six main components of the chain of infection are: the infectious agent, the source of infection, the portal of exit, the mode of transmission, the portal of entry, and the susceptible host.
Key points
- Infectious agent: the pathogen causing the disease.
- Source of infection: the reservoir where the pathogen lives.
- Portal of exit: the route through which the pathogen leaves the reservoir.
- Mode of transmission: how the pathogen is transferred to a new host.
- Portal of entry: the means by which the pathogen enters a new host.
- Susceptible host: an individual who is at risk of infection.
Source:Fundamentals of Nursing: Active Learning for Collaborative Practice· Asepsis and Infection Control· p. 1451–1463
Fundamentals of Nursing: Active Learning for Collaborative Practice
Barbara L Yoost & Lynne R Crawford
2E