Infection prevention and control: Guideline for speech pathologists, Version 1,2020.

2.0 Background Information

Infectious agents are any microscopic living organisms ( bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans or helminths) that are capable of causing disease; also known as a microbe or germ (see Figure 1). 1-3

Figure 1: Types of Infectious Agents

Sourced from Mayo Clinic 2

Endemic is an infectious agent that perpetually exists in a population, environment or area. 4

Outbreaks are a sudden increase in the occurrences of a particular infectious agent above what is typically anticipated (endemic) in a specific area (e.g., community or country) or a single case in a new location. If not controlled, it can escalate to an epidemic. 5 Epidemics can occur when an infectious agent transmits rapidly to a number of people within a community, population or region. 5 Pandemic is a global infectious agent outbreak the affects a significant number of people, transmission across multiple countries or continents.

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Infection Prevention and Control - Guideline for Speech Pathologists | Version 1, 2020