Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

Droplet transmission refers specifically to the spread of infectious agents through respiratory droplets that are expelled when a person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. These droplets are typically larger than 5 micrometers and can be inhaled by individuals nearby, leading to infection. This mode of transmission is significant in the context of respiratory diseases, including influenza and COVID-19. The other options describe different mechanisms of disease transmission. Touching contaminated surfaces relates to fomite transmission, where pathogens can survive on surfaces long enough to be picked up by someone. Vector transmission involves organisms, such as mosquitoes or ticks, that carry pathogens from one host to another. Food and water transmission refers to the spread of infections through contaminated consumables. Each of these modes of transmission has distinct characteristics, making droplet transmission unique to its mechanism.