Module 3: Chain of Infection

Students will be introduced to the chain of infection and then complete a case study using bacteria to understand where bacteria are found in our environment (reservoirs) and their modes of transmission. Students will conduct an investigation on bacterial growth and make predictions on where growth may be high or lower. Depending on the integration of the health sciences, teachers may wish to expand this lesson and provide additional examples of the chain of infection with other pathogens.

Resources and Activities

Case Studies

1. How to Survive a Cholera Epidemic?

2. John Snow--The First Epidemiologist

3. Clinical Epidemiology Lab

Activities from Catch the Fever

1. Chain of Infection

2. Clinical Epidemiology

3. Evolutionary Arms Race

4. Fun with Fomites

5. Herd Immunity