Exogenous infections are caused by pathogens introduced from outside the body. Which term describes this type of infection?

Exogenous infections are caused by pathogens introduced from outside the body. Which term describes this type of infection?

• A. Endogenous infections
• B. Nosocomial infections
• C. Opportunistic infections
• D. Exogenous infections

Answer: (D)

The key idea is where the infectious agent comes from. Exogenous infections describe infections caused by pathogens that originate outside the body and are introduced from the external environment. This contrasts with infections that arise from the body’s own microbes (endogenous), or infections acquired in a hospital (nosocomial) or infections that occur because the host’s defenses are compromised (opportunistic). So, when the pathogen is external to the body, the correct term is exogenous infections.

The key idea is where the infectious agent comes from. Exogenous infections describe infections caused by pathogens that originate outside the body and are introduced from the external environment. This contrasts with infections that arise from the body’s own microbes (endogenous), or infections acquired in a hospital (nosocomial) or infections that occur because the host’s defenses are compromised (opportunistic). So, when the pathogen is external to the body, the correct term is exogenous infections.