1- Infection is a process in which a pathogenic microorganism invades the body of a susceptible host, multiplies and triggers an inflammatory response. This process can cause tissue damage and manifest clinically as an infectious disease with specific signs and symptoms, depending on the causative agent and the host's defenses. Colonization, on the other hand, refers to the presence of microorganisms on body surfaces without causing damage or an inflammatory response. The main difference between colonization and infection is that colonization does not generate symptoms or inflammation, while infection involves invasion of sterile tissues, multiplication of the pathogen and activation of the immune system (Rehman, 2023).
An example of colonization is the presence of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin or nostrils without causing disease. In contrast, an example of infection is a urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli, where bacteria invade the urinary tract, causing inflammation and symptoms such as painful urination and fever.
2- Infection is initiated when a pathogenic agent, such as a microorganism (virus, bacteria, fungus, protozoan) or a toxin, manages to overcome the natural barriers of the host organism, such as the skin or mucous membranes. This process can occur by direct contact, inhalation, ingestion or through wounds. Once inside the body, the pathogen attaches to host cells through specific interactions between its structures (such as glycoproteins or viral capsids) and cell receptors. Subsequently, it penetrates cells or tissues and begins to replicate or release toxins, triggering an initial nonspecific inflammatory response that includes vasodilation, edema, and the arrival of immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages to contain the infection (Charles A Janeway et al., 2019).
The usual course of an infection follows several stages: incubation, where the pathogen multiplies without visible symptoms; prodromal phase, characterized by nonspecific symptoms such as fever or malaise; clinical phase, where specific signs of disease appear; and finally, resolution, in which the host recovers, the infection becomes chronic or proves fatal. For example, in a viral respiratory infection such as influenza, the virus enters by inhalation, attaches to airway epithelial cells and begins to replicate, causing fever and cough in the clinical phase before resolving or becoming complicated. In general, the initial inflammatory response can eliminate the invading agent if it is effective. If the infection is not contained at this stage, a specific immune response mediated by T and B lymphocytes is activated, generating antibodies and immunologic memory. In more severe cases, the pathogen may spread through the bloodstream or tissues, causing systemic or chronic infections. Finally, if the agent is eliminated, the organism enters a phase of tissue repair to restore damaged tissues.
3- The course of an infection is determined by a complex interaction between pathogen, host and environmental factors. Pathogen factors include virulence, infectivity and ability to evade the immune system. For example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive within macrophages, which facilitates chronic infections such as tuberculosis. Likewise, viruses such as influenza have a high capacity for mutation, which allows them to evade immune defenses and cause recurrent epidemics. As for host factors, immune status is key: immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV, are more susceptible to opportunistic infections such as systemic candidiasis. Chronic conditions (diabetes or renal failure), age (children and the elderly are more vulnerable) and genetic predisposition also play a role. For example, in the case of HIV-1, certain genes related to chemokine receptors may confer partial resistance to progression of infection in individuals without long-term progression (Pugliese et al., 2022).
Finally, environmental factors include sanitation conditions, access to medical care and exposure to vectors. Diseases such as dengue or malaria are more prevalent in tropical regions due to the presence of vectors such as mosquitoes. In summary, these variables determine diverse trajectories: from self-limiting infections (such as influenza) to chronic (tuberculosis) or severe progressive (sepsis).
References
Charles A Janeway, J., Travers, P., Walport, M., & Shlomchik, M. J. (2019). Infectious agents and how they cause disease. In Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition. Garland Science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27114/
Pugliese, G., Liccardi, A., Graziadio, C., Barrea, L., Muscogiuri, G., & Colao, A. (2022). Obesity and infectious diseases: Pathophysiology and epidemiology of a double pandemic condition. International Journal of Obesity, 46(3), 449–465. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-01035-6
Rehman, T. (2023). Colonization vs. Infection—What’s the Difference? https://www.askdifference.com/colonization-vs-infection/