PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Reservoir. The reservoir of an infectious agent is the habitat in which the agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. Reservoirs include humans, animals, and the environment. The reservoir may or may not be the source from which an agent is transferred to a host.

Detailed explanation-2: -For pathogens to persist over long periods of time they require reservoirs where they normally reside. Reservoirs can be living organisms or nonliving sites. Nonliving reservoirs can include soil and water in the environment. These may naturally harbor the organism because it may grow in that environment.

Detailed explanation-3: -Humans are the most common reservoirs of pathogens that can infect themselves (see E. coli example above) and others. The following table summarizes the human reservoirs and methods of transmission of common infectious agents.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water can harbor germs that threaten the safety of patients and spread antibiotic resistant pathogens or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).