I believe the lay term would be contagious or catching. Meaning it can be passed from one person to another.
The lay term for cholecystectomy would be 'the removal of the gall bladder'.
The term pathogen is a general term that is applied to an infectious agent, or germ. The infectious agent itself could be a bacteria or a virus that is harmful to a body. The virus is a type of pathogen.
Pathogen
Reservoir.
communicable disease
Absence of microorganisms is sterile.
this term means something is capable of being passed on. i.e airbourne diseases can be passed via coughing, and sneezing therefore are infectious.
The term you are looking for is "fomite." Fomites are objects or materials that can carry and transmit infectious agents, such as viruses or bacteria, from one person to another.
I believe the lay term would be contagious or catching. Meaning it can be passed from one person to another.
pathogenAn agent of infection is a pathogen.
opportunistic infections
Intussusception, intravenous, infectious, inframammary, iliac, for a few.