Which of the following best describes the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in tissue that is not normally present?

The term that best describes the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in tissue that is not normally present is infection. Infection occurs when pathogenic microorganisms enter a host, colonize their tissues, and begin to multiply, often causing harm to the host in the process. This process typically triggers an immune response as the body tries to eliminate the invading pathogens.

In contrast, colonization refers specifically to the establishment of microorganisms in a host without necessarily causing disease, which differentiates it from infection where the presence of disease is implied. Contamination refers to the presence of microorganisms on a surface or in a sample but does not involve the active multiplication or invasion of host tissues. Infestation generally pertains to larger organisms, such as parasites, invading a host rather than microorganisms. Thus, infection is the most appropriate and accurate term for the scenario described.