What term is used to describe an infection risk associated with an uncleaned imaging receptor (IR) used on multiple patients?

The term used to describe an infection risk associated with an uncleaned imaging receptor (IR) that has been used on multiple patients is "fomite." A fomite refers to any inanimate object or surface that can harbor pathogenic microorganisms, potentially leading to the transmission of infections. In a medical context, when an imaging receptor is not properly cleaned between patients, it can become a fomite if it carries pathogens from one person and then comes into contact with another, thereby facilitating the spread of infection.

In contrast, a pathogen is specifically a microorganism that can cause disease, while a contaminant refers more generally to any substance that may contaminate or pollute an object. A vector is an organism, often an insect, that transmits a pathogen to a host, which is different from the concept of an inanimate object that carries germs. Understanding these definitions highlights why "fomite" is the appropriate choice for describing the transmission risk from an uncleaned imaging receptor.