An infection that results when the bloodstream carries bacteria or viruses to all parts of the body is called what?

• A. Local infection
• B. Contagious infection
• C. Infectious disease
• D. General infection

Answer: (D)

Systemic spread of infection occurs when pathogens travel through the bloodstream to reach many parts of the body. Because the bloodstream acts like a highway, bacteria or viruses circulating in it can seed multiple tissues and organs, leading to a generalized or general infection rather than remaining localized to one spot. This is different from a local infection, which stays confined to a single area (like a cut or a boil). Contagious infection describes how easily an infection can be transmitted to others, not how widely it spreads within the body. An infectious disease is a broad label for any illness caused by a pathogen, whether it’s local or systemic. So the description best matches a general (systemic) infection.