Hartman's Nursing Assistant Care Practice Exam 2025 - Free Nursing Assistant Care Practice Questions and Study Guide

The causative agent in the chain of infection is the pathogen. Pathogens are microorganisms that can cause disease, and they include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Understanding that pathogens are the specific organisms responsible for causing infections is fundamental in the field of nursing and healthcare. This knowledge helps healthcare professionals identify how infections spread and develop strategies to prevent them.

Other factors such as infectious diseases describe the conditions resulting from the presence of pathogens, while a healthy individual represents an environment or state that is less conducive to infection. Environmental factors can influence the spread of pathogens but do not serve as the actual causative agents themselves. Therefore, identifying the pathogen as the causative agent is essential in controlling and preventing infections effectively.