Chain of infection

Last revised by Joshua Yap on 2 Oct 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Bell D, Yap J, Chain of infection. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-153658

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-153658

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/153658

rID:

153658

Article created:

1 Oct 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Oct 2022, Joshua Yap ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Joshua Yap had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Joshua Yap's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Tags:

reference needed

Synonyms:

Chain of transmission
Chains of infection
Chains of transmission

The chain of infection, also known as the chain of transmission, refers to the chronological sequence in which an infectious agent, and hence disease, is able to disseminate through a population. The chain results from a complex interaction between the agent, environment, and host.

Typically the chain comprises these key components:

reservoir
portal of exit
mode of transmission
portal of entry
host

At the start of the chain, the infectious entity (e.g. virus) lies and replicates in a natural reservoir; this may be an organism or somewhere in the environment (e.g. a lake or the soil). By some means, the infective agent leaves its reservoir via a portal of exit, and employing a mode of transmission, passes through a portal of entry to reach its host ¹.

Clinical significance

A good understanding of the chain of infection is of key importance in controlling and ultimately preventing any infectious disease. If one of the links of the chain can be broken, the transmission can be halted and the disease stopped ¹.