Droplet infection spreads by?

Appeared in: BSF Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Droplet infection is transmitted through large respiratory droplets (>5 microns) generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
These droplets travel short distances (typically up to 3-6 feet) before settling, and transmission occurs when they contact the mucous membranes of a susceptible person.
Coughing is a primary mechanism for generating and expelling these infectious droplets.
Diseases spread by droplets include influenza, pertussis, and meningococcal meningitis.

Option B: Touching describes contact transmission, which involves skin-to-skin contact or touching a contaminated surface (fomite).
Option C: Use of a utensil is a form of vehicle (fomite) transmission, where an inanimate object carries the pathogen. While droplets can contaminate utensils, the primary mode of droplet infection is direct inhalation or contact with mucous membranes.
Option D: Transmission via blood infusion is known as blood-borne transmission, involving direct exposure to infected blood.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Modes of infection transmission, specifically droplet infection helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding modes of transmission is fundamental for nurses to implement appropriate infection control precautions, protecting patients, themselves, and others.
Correctly identifying an infection as spread by droplets immediately triggers 'Droplet Precautions,' which include placing the patient in a private room and wearing a surgical mask for close contact.
This knowledge prevents nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections and outbreaks.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Droplet infection'.
Recall the definition of droplet transmission: spread through large respiratory particles generated by coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Consider the key characteristics: large particle size (>5 microns) and short travel distance (about 3-6 feet).
Evaluate each option based on this definition. 'Coughing' is the action that produces and expels these droplets.
Systematically eliminate the other options by identifying their correct mode of transmission: 'Touching' is contact, 'use of utensil' is vehicle/fomite, and 'blood infusion' is blood-borne.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Modes of infection transmission, specifically droplet infection.
Stem keywords: Droplet infection, spreads by
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 90-92

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 1 p. 131-133

Practise the full BSF Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.