1. Explain the three elements necessary to spread infection. The spread of infection requires three elements. The first is; A source of infecting microorganisms: This could be an exogenous infection which arises from microorganisms external to the individual and do not exist as normal flora. They usually have a preferred portal of entry like the gastrointestinal for Salmonella. Another source is endogenous infections which can occur when part of the client’s flora becomes altered and an overgrowth results e.g. Yeasts infection. Second requirement is means of transmission for the microorganism, which also explains the three primary modes of pathogen transmission. For example, vertical transmission is when a pathogen is passed from parent to child through the placental, ova, sperm, breast milk (direct contact). Horizontal transmission occurs by contact transmission, which could be direct i.e. close contact that results in exposure to skin and body secretions, or by indirect contact i.e. when the pathogen is transferred to host by fomite or vector. Droplet transmission is another form of direct contact transmission where the pathogen is transmitted in droplet form from the respiratory tract through the air by coughing sneezing or talking. The third element is a susceptible host: This is someone who is at the risk of infection especially a person with a compromised immune system (Gladwin, & Trattler, 2011).
2. Explain what can make a potential host susceptible to infection.
A compromised immune system i.e. the body does not have the ability to defend against pathogens. People with AIDS have a compromised immune system causing then to be open to opportunistic infections like Kaposi's sarcoma virus. The age of host is important also. The very young and the very old are usually more susceptible to diseases than older children and young adults .When