infectious agents
Germs and viruses
Infectious agents are microorganisms or other entities capable of causing disease—bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions.
The term appears in medical and public health contexts when discussing transmission, prevention, or treatment: The infectious agent was identified as a novel coronavirus.
Also called pathogens, though infectious agent is slightly broader, covering anything that can infect a host.
- Zika virusFlavivirus spread by mosquitoes
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- viral loadPathogen count in body
- super spreaderHighly contagious transmitter
- Toxoplasma gondiiCat-borne parasitic protozoan
Trypanosoma brucei · disease vector · food poisoning · bacteria · prions · pathogens · norovirus · Epstein-Barr virus · common cold · disease · patient zero · stomach bug · toxin · fever · spreading · airborne transmission · contamination · spore
infectious agentsbeneficial bacteria
Health-promoting microorganisms
probiotics · gut microbiome · symbiotic bacteria · mutualists
infectious agentsantibiotics
Bacteria-destroying medicines
vaccines · medicines · antimicrobials · antiviral drugs · therapeutics
agent, agency, infect, infection, infected, infectious, disinfectant, disinfected, infecting