Which statement best describes a pathogen?

A pathogen is specifically defined as a microorganism that causes disease. This covers a wide array of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. When these pathogens enter the body, they can disrupt normal physiological processes, leading to various illnesses. Understanding the nature of pathogens is crucial in the field of laboratory and diagnostic medicine because identifying them is often the first step in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. The other responses describe different concepts that do not accurately define what a pathogen is, such as medications, components of the immune system, or general health conditions.