Medical & Clinical Microbiology

Modes of Transmission-Routes of Infections

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Infectious diseases can be transmitted by several routes, which can be categorized as direct or indirect modes of transmission. The etiological agent that is the microorganism that has caused the infection. The reservoir of infection refers to the origin of etiological agent or its location such as contaminated food, another human, or an infected animal.   

Control and prevention of infection depends on stopping the transmission of the pathogen from the source of infection (infected animal or human) to a new host (animal or human) or location. Identifying effective preventive and control measures against not only specific diseases, but also other similarly transmitted pathogens, including unexpected infections, by understanding the transmission route of the disease and its contribution to the spread of the organism. Microbial transmission can be divided into five major routes:

5. direct contact
5. pathogens
5. aerosols (in the air)
5. Oral (ingestion)
6. vector infections.

 Some microbes can be transmitted in multiple ways.

Related Associations and Societies

American Society for Microbiology, American Academy of Microbiology, Canadian Society of Microbiologists, , Brazilian Society of  Microbiology, German Society of Hygiene and  Microbiology, Spanish Society for Microbiology ,Swedish Society for Microbiology, National Multiple Sclerosis Society