Which term describes an inanimate object that transmits infection?

• A. Fomite
• B. Vector
• C. Reservoir
• D. Portal of exit

Answer: (A)

Fomite is the term for an inanimate object that can carry infectious agents and transmit them to another person. The idea is indirect transmission: a pathogen is left on a surface by an infected person or contaminated material, and someone else then touches that surface and later touches their mouth, nose, eyes, or a break in the skin, allowing the pathogen to enter. Examples include doorknobs, towels, and medical instruments.

A living creature that passes pathogens is a vector, so this is not about an animal or insect. A reservoir is the source or environment where a pathogen persists, not the object that directly transmits it. A portal of exit describes how the pathogen leaves the infected host (like coughing or draining a wound), not an object that carries and passes it.