Pathogen Types
Single-celled organisms that can cause infections and can often be treated with antibiotics. Name them.
Bacteria
Spread by touching an infected person (e.g., handshake). What is this called?
Direct contact transmission
The body’s first line of defense against pathogens (covers the body). What is it?
Skin
What simple hygiene step removes germs from your hands?
Washing hands with soap and water
A disease that can spread from person to person is called what?
Communicable disease (infectious disease)
Tiny agents that need a living cell to reproduce and cause colds and flu. Name them.
Viruses
Spread occurs when someone coughs or sneezes and droplets reach another person. What is this called?
Droplet transmission
Fluid that carries immune cells and helps fight infection. Name it.
Lymph (contains lymphocytes)
A product that helps your immune system learn to fight a disease without making you sick. What is it?
Vaccine
A long-lasting disease not spread between people (examples: heart disease, diabetes) is called what?
Noncommunicable disease (chronic disease)
Organisms that include yeasts and molds can cause athlete’s foot. What are they?
Fungi
Give two examples of indirect ways a disease can spread (no direct contact).
Examples: contaminated surfaces (fomites), contaminated food or water
Proteins the immune system makes to stick to and help remove germs. What are they called?
Antibodies
Antibiotics treat which type of pathogen? Why don’t they work on viruses?
Antibiotics treat bacteria; viruses replicate inside cells and lack bacterial targets so antibiotics don’t work.
Give one common cause of communicable diseases and one common cause of noncommunicable diseases.
Communicable cause: pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Noncommunicable cause: lifestyle factors (poor diet, smoking) or genetics.
Single-celled parasites that often live in water and can cause digestive illness (one example).
Protozoa
What is a vector? Give one example of a vector.
A vector is an organism that carries disease between hosts (example: mosquito)
One sentence: What do B cells do? One sentence: What do T cells do?
B cells: make antibodies. T cells: kill infected cells or help control the immune response.
Name two actions people or governments can take to slow the spread of a new respiratory disease.
Examples: mask wearing, social distancing, testing and isolation, contact tracing, temporary closures (any two)
Name one prevention method mostly used for communicable diseases and one prevention method mostly used for noncommunicable diseases.
Communicable prevention: vaccination or hygiene. Noncommunicable prevention: healthy diet, exercise, screening for risk factors.
Name two ways viruses differ from bacteria.
Viruses are smaller than bacteria; viruses need host cells to reproduce; viruses lack cell structures that antibiotics target.
Briefly explain how airborne spread is different from droplet spread.
Airborne particles are smaller, can stay in the air longer, and travel farther; droplets are larger and fall to surfaces quickly.
Why is it important to finish a prescribed antibiotic course?
To ensure all bacteria are killed and to help prevent antibiotic resistance.
Why is it important to finish a prescribed antibiotic course?
To ensure all bacteria are killed and to help prevent antibiotic resistance.
Explain one key difference in how outbreaks of communicable diseases are managed compared to how care for noncommunicable diseases is planned at the population level.
Communicable outbreaks focus on rapid detection, isolation, contact tracing, and short-term interventions to stop spread; noncommunicable disease planning focuses on long-term prevention, chronic care systems, and lifestyle or policy changes (e.g., tobacco control, screening programs).