Final answer:
The term for an inanimate object involved in infection spread is a fomite, not listed in the options. A vector, an offered choice, refers to an organism that spreads pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general term for any inanimate object involved in the spread of infection is a fomite. However, none of the provided options (vector, carrier, pathogen, host) accurately describe an inanimate object that can spread infection, as they all refer to living organisms or the pathogens themselves. A vector is specifically an organism, typically an arthropod like mosquitoes or ticks, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another. Therefore, the correct term 'fomite' is missing from the list of provided options.