Common Causes of Infection

Common Causes of Infection

Direct Contact Transmission

• Direct physical contact between individuals can transmit infections such as impetigo, scabies and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Bites or scratches from animals or people can lead to infections such as tetanus or pasteurella.
• Droplet infection is when pathogens are carried in droplets expelled from the body, for example, by coughing or sneezing, leading to infections like influenza or the common cold.

Indirect Contact Transmission

• Contact with contaminated objects: Some pathogens can survive for a time outside the body. Contact with objects like door handles or shared personal items can spread infections such as norovirus.
• Contact with contaminated food or water can cause infections such as E.coli, salmonella or cholera.
• Airborne transmission refers to pathogens carried on dust or water droplets in the air, leading to infections such as tuberculosis or measles.

Vector-borne Transmission

• Vectors, often insects, carry pathogens from one host to another. Mosquitoes, for example, transmit malaria and Zika virus.
• Ticks can transmit Lyme disease.

Other Common Causes of Infection

• Compromised Immune Systems: Individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection from pathogens.
• Poor Hygiene Practices: This refers to both personal hygiene such as hand washing, and environmental hygiene like regular cleaning of common surfaces.
• Inadequate Infection Control: This includes failure to isolate individuals with infectious diseases, and lack of or improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).