Patient Care Technician Certification (PCTC) AMCA Practice Exam

What is the infectious agent responsible for causing an infection called?

1. Pathogen

2. Carrier

3. Agent

4. Host

The correct answer is: Agent

The term that describes the infectious agent responsible for causing an infection is commonly known as a pathogen. A pathogen is an organism, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that can cause disease in a host. Understanding this definition is essential in the context of patient care because recognizing pathogens allows healthcare providers to implement the appropriate measures for infection control and treatment. While "agent" may refer to something that can cause an effect, in medical terminology, it is not specific enough to denote the organisms responsible for infections. Instead, "pathogen" is the more accurate term in the context of infectious diseases, making it crucial for those studying for patient care technician certification to know this distinction. Additionally, the terms carrier and host pertain to different concepts; a carrier is an individual who harbors the pathogen but may not exhibit symptoms, while a host is the organism that the pathogen infects.