Which term describes microorganisms that will not cause illness, infection, or disease?

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!

Non-pathogens are microorganisms that do not cause illness, infection, or disease in a healthy person. They lack the ability to cause disease under normal conditions, which is why this term is used to describe organisms that won’t make you sick. Many microbes that normally live on and in our bodies are non-pathogenic, often referred to as normal flora, but it’s important to remember that some normally harmless organisms can cause problems if a person’s immune defenses are weakened or they invade normally sterile sites. Pathogens, in contrast, are capable of causing disease. An outbreak refers to a sudden increase in the number of disease cases, not to a type of microbe.