Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The characterization of bacteria and viruses as infectious agents stems from their fundamental role in causing illnesses in hosts. Infectious agents are organisms capable of living and multiplying within a host, leading to disease. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms, while viruses are much smaller entities that rely on host cells to replicate. Together, they are responsible for a wide range of infections, from common colds to more serious diseases like influenza or COVID-19.

In contrast, weather conditions, injuries, and chemical exposures do not fit the definition of infectious agents, as they do not possess the biological capability to multiply or cause disease through infectious means. Weather may influence health conditions but does not act as an infectious organism. Injuries result from physical harm and do not involve a biological multiplier effect, while chemical exposure refers to interactions with toxic substances that can lead to various health effects, but they do not classify as living infectious agents. Therefore, bacteria and viruses are specifically identified as infectious agents due to their ability to invade, replicate, and induce disease in a host organism.