Final answer:
The source of infection where microorganisms are transmitted from another source is known as a common source spread, which indicates that all infections come from the same origin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source of infection where microorganisms are transmitted from another source is called a common source spread. This mode of disease transmission implies that every infection originates from the same source. This source can be a single meal that causes food poisoning among different individuals, or a medical instrument that is not sterilized properly between patients. In a broader context, this term is also used for situations such as continuous common source spread, where the source continually produces the pathogen over an extended period of time, for example, a contaminated water supply.
Pathogens that can cause disease are communicable, meaning they are able to be transferred directly or indirectly from one person to another. Indirect contact transmission happens when there is a transfer of infectious agents between hosts via a contaminated intermediate object or person, also known as a fomite.