Which term describes the ability to transmit infections?

The term that describes the ability to transmit infections is "contagious." This specifically refers to diseases that can be spread from one person to another through direct or indirect contact. When a disease is labeled as contagious, it signifies that it can easily move between individuals, often through respiratory droplets, physical contact, or other means of transmission.

Understanding contagion is crucial in the field of beauty therapy, as practitioners must be aware of the potential risks posed by infectious conditions when treating clients. This awareness helps implement appropriate hygiene practices and protocols to minimize the risk of spreading infections.

Other options like "infectious" generally describe a disease's ability to cause infection, while "transmissible" is often used interchangeably with contagious but can have a broader meaning, including non-human vectors. "Virulent," on the other hand, indicates the severity or harmfulness of a pathogen rather than its ability to spread. Thus, while all these terms relate to infections, "contagious" specifically addresses the mechanism of transmission between individuals.