A person who does not have an infection now but is at risk for becoming infected from harmful germs is called a

Prepare for the Nurse Aide I Module B – Infection Prevention Test. Leverage multiple choice questions, detailed flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Ensure your readiness for the exam!

The main idea is identifying who is at risk of infection in the chain of infection. A susceptible host is someone who does not have an infection yet but has reduced defenses or other risk factors that make it easier for a germ to cause infection when exposed. This includes having a weakened immune system, old age, very young age, illness, malnutrition, or a skin break that provides an entry point for pathogens. Because the person described isn’t infected now but could become infected from harmful germs, they fit the definition of a susceptible host.

Carrier, by contrast, harbors a germ and can spread it without showing symptoms, but they are already carrying the organism. A patient is any person receiving care, not necessarily at increased risk of infection, and a resident is someone living in a care setting.