Which term describes people who have harmful germs living on or in their body, but are not visibly sick?

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!

Asymptomatic carriage is when someone holds onto harmful germs in or on their body without showing illness, yet they can still spread those germs to others. This is exactly what a carrier describes: a person who feels fine but can shed the organism through touch, droplets, or contaminated surfaces, posing a transmission risk. That’s why this term fits best.

A reservoir is the place where a germ lives and multiplies, which can be a person, animal, or environment, not specifically about the person being healthy or sick. A vector is an organism—often an insect—that transmits pathogens between hosts. A host is the living organism that harbors the pathogen, who may be sick or asymptomatic. The emphasis on not appearing sick and still potentially spreading germs is what makes carrier the correct term.