Airborne

Airborne: Droplets are coughed or sneezed out and settle fairly quickly, before

they can travel far (a few metres maximum) or dry to tiny droplet nuclei - aerosols -

which go longer distances. Cough - air travel 120mph, range = 3 feet

Large Droplet

The large droplets can be either inhaled or picked up from contaminated

environment (including people's hands) Some more infectious than others as

droplets tend to be inhaled easily eg influenza, chicken pox (VZV = varicella zoster

virus)

Other droplet borne infections are more related to contact with infected surfaces,

or closer contact (ie close exposure to the droplets themselves) so spread less

readily eg mumps, upper respiratory tract virus infections - colds (such as

rhinovirus), RSV (respiratory syncitial virus - causes mild respiratory tract infection,

dangerous for immunocompromised patients) etc

meningococcus - droplets - only very short range spread eg direct cough into face,

mucous membranes contaminated - not high risk of infection in healthcare workers