What is the term for a disease-causing microorganism?

The term for a disease-causing microorganism is "pathogen." Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can invade the body and cause diseases. This classification highlights their role in infections and illnesses, emphasizing the need for infection control measures to prevent their spread in various settings, particularly in practices involving healthcare and personal services like cosmetology.

Understanding pathogens is essential in infection control because it helps practitioners recognize the importance of sanitation, sterilization, and hygiene practices designed to eliminate these harmful microorganisms. Antigens, on the other hand, are substances that trigger an immune response but are not microorganisms themselves. Allergens are specific substances that can cause allergic reactions, and toxins refer to poisonous substances produced by living organisms, but neither of these terms describes something that directly causes disease in the same way that pathogens do.