What is the body's ability to destroy infectious agents called?

The body's ability to destroy infectious agents is referred to as immunity. This term encapsulates the complex biological processes and responses that enable an organism to recognize and defend against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Immunity can be innate, meaning it is present from birth and involves general defenses, or acquired, which develops over time as the body is exposed to specific pathogens and forms a targeted response (such as through vaccination or prior infection).

Understanding immunity is critical in the field of safety and sanitation since it directly relates to how effectively individuals can protect themselves against infections, especially in environments where hygiene practices are paramount. Promoting good hygiene and sanitation practices can help enhance an individual's overall immunity by reducing exposure to infectious agents, thereby lowering the risk of illness.

The other options provided, such as resistance, health, and resilience, while related to overall well-being and the body’s functioning, do not specifically define the immune response to infectious agents in the same way that immunity does. Resistance typically refers more broadly to the ability to withstand; health covers a wide range of physical and mental well-being, and resilience denotes the capacity to recover from difficulties or adapt to change, which does not singularly address the infectious agent aspect.