Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario (MDRAO) Practice Exam

Which of the following describes indirect contact transmission?

1. Touching contaminated surfaces

2. Direct handshaking

3. Foodborne illness

4. Sharing personal items

The correct answer is: Touching contaminated surfaces

Indirect contact transmission refers to the spread of infectious agents through contaminated surfaces or objects. When a person touches a contaminated surface and then later touches their face or another mucous membrane, they can introduce pathogens into their body, leading to infection. In the context of the options provided, touching contaminated surfaces clearly embodies this concept, as it involves an intermediary (the surface) through which the pathogen is transmitted. This mode of transmission highlights the importance of proper cleaning, disinfection, and hygiene practices to mitigate the risk of infection. The other options, while related to transmission, involve different forms of contact. Direct handshaking refers to transmission through immediate skin-to-skin interaction, foodborne illness pertains to pathogens entering the body through ingestion, and sharing personal items often involves close proximity but does not clearly define the intermediary surface or object in the same way as touching a contaminated surface does.