Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Medical Assistant Certification Exam with interactive quizzes. Explore various formats with hints and explanations. Ace your certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What term refers to microbes that can cause disease?

Pathogens
Bacteria
Viruses
Antigens

The correct answer is: Pathogens

The term that refers to microbes capable of causing disease is "pathogens." Pathogens are a broad category that includes various types of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that are known to infect host organisms and potentially lead to illness. Their ability to cause disease can depend on various factors, including their virulence, the host's immune response, and the presence of other health conditions. While bacteria and viruses are specific types of pathogens, they do not encompass all microbes that can cause disease. Additionally, antigens are substances that trigger an immune response but do not directly refer to disease-causing microbes. Understanding the distinct role of pathogens in health and disease is crucial for medical professionals, especially when it comes to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infections.