CBSPD Sterile Processing Technician Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Certification Success!

The principal route for the transmission of nosocomial infections, or healthcare-associated infections, is direct contact. This mode of transmission involves the transfer of pathogens from one individual to another through physical touch, which can occur during patient care, procedures, or even through contaminated surfaces and instruments.

Direct contact is significant in healthcare settings because patients, especially those with compromised immune systems, are more vulnerable to infections. Healthcare workers may inadvertently carry pathogens on their hands, clothing, or equipment and spread them during interactions with patients. Proper hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment are critical measures to prevent this type of transmission.

While airborne spread, vector-borne transmission, and food contamination can also involve the transmission of infections, they are not the primary concern within healthcare facilities where direct contact is typically the most prevalent means of spreading pathogens between patients and staff. Understanding these modes of transmission is essential for implementing effective infection control practices.