Which term describes infection caused by the body’s own microorganisms becoming pathogenic?

Which term describes infection caused by the body’s own microorganisms becoming pathogenic?

• A. Carrier
• B. Subclinical case
• C. Endogenous infection
• D. Exogenous infection

Answer: (C)

Endogenous infection occurs when the body's own microorganisms become pathogenic due to changes in the host or its environment. The resident flora that normally coexist harmlessly can overgrow, translocate to sites they don’t normally inhabit, or become virulent after disruption of barriers or immune defenses, leading to infection. For example, normal gut or vaginal bacteria causing a urinary tract or wound infection after a change in host defenses illustrates this concept. By contrast, a carrier harbors a pathogen without disease, a subclinical case has infection with few or no symptoms, and an exogenous infection comes from pathogens originating outside the body.

Endogenous infection occurs when the body's own microorganisms become pathogenic due to changes in the host or its environment. The resident flora that normally coexist harmlessly can overgrow, translocate to sites they don’t normally inhabit, or become virulent after disruption of barriers or immune defenses, leading to infection. For example, normal gut or vaginal bacteria causing a urinary tract or wound infection after a change in host defenses illustrates this concept. By contrast, a carrier harbors a pathogen without disease, a subclinical case has infection with few or no symptoms, and an exogenous infection comes from pathogens originating outside the body.