Which elements comprise the chain of infection?

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The chain of infection is built from six essential elements that must align for an infection to spread: the infectious agent, its reservoir, the portal of exit, the means of transmission, the portal of entry, and a susceptible host. This sequence shows how a pathogen moves from one person or place to another and causes disease in a new host.

The option listing agent, reservoir, portal of exit, transmission route, portal of entry, and susceptible host matches all parts of that chain. It includes every critical link, illustrating how the pathogen leaves its source, travels, and finally enters a new person who is at risk. If any one link is blocked—such as eliminating the reservoir, restricting exit or entry portals, interrupting transmission, or reducing host susceptibility—spread stops. The other options describe outcomes, controls, or different concepts, but they do not enumerate the full chain of infection.