What term is used to describe inanimate objects that transfer disease organisms?

The term used to describe inanimate objects that transfer disease organisms is "fomites." Fomites are surfaces or materials that can become contaminated with infectious agents, such as bacteria or viruses, and can facilitate the spread of these organisms from one person to another. For example, doorknobs, computer keyboards, and utensils can all serve as fomites if they are not regularly cleaned, allowing pathogens to survive and subsequently infect individuals who come into contact with them.

The other terms listed describe different concepts in the realm of infectious diseases. Viruses are a type of pathogen that can cause disease but are not inanimate objects themselves. Pathogens is a broader term that includes any organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, that can cause disease. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can also be pathogenic, but they are specifically one type of pathogen and not necessarily inanimate objects. Thus, "fomites" is the most accurate term for inanimate objects that can transport disease organisms.