Felicia poked herself while disposing of a needle that she had just used to administer medication to a patient. She was later te
sted for infection from this needle stick and tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this scenario, the needle stick was what link in the chain of transmission?
In this scenario the needle stick is the portal of entry in the chain of transmission. The susceptible host is Felicia, the infectious agent is the blood of the patient on the needle, the needle stick is the portal of entry because it is how the infection entered Felicia, the reservoir is the patient (the host) as that is where the infection lives and the portal or exit would be the vein of the host (where the infection is located).
