This document discusses categories of infectious agents including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. It describes resident flora, opportunistic flora, and true pathogens. It discusses local vs systemic infections and extent of host involvement including sepsis, bacteremia, and toxemia. Factors influencing transmission are also summarized such as reservoirs, routes of transmission, and vectors. Characteristics of pathogens that favor environmental transmission and bacterial pathogenicity/virulence properties are outlined. Host factors in transmission and sensitive populations are also described.