What type of contamination often occurs when an infectious person coughs or sneezes?

Droplet contamination occurs when infectious respiratory droplets are expelled into the air as a person coughs, sneezes, or even talks. These droplets can contain pathogens and can travel short distances, typically less than six feet. Others can become infected if they come into contact with these droplets, especially if they enter their mucous membranes, such as those found in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

This mode of transmission is significant in controlling the spread of many respiratory infections, including influenza and COVID-19. Understanding droplet contamination helps in implementing effective infection prevention measures, such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and promoting good respiratory hygiene like coughing into a tissue or elbow.

While airborne contamination usually refers to smaller particles that can remain suspended in the air for a longer time and travel greater distances, fomite contamination involves surfaces that have been contaminated by pathogens through direct contact. Vector contamination typically involves organisms that transmit disease through other living organisms, such as insects. Hence, the key aspect of droplet contamination is its direct link to respiratory secretions and the close range at which it can transmit infectious agents.