Infectious Diseases and Infection Control in Anesthesia - Infection Control in the OR

Methods of Infection Spread

Methods of Infection Spread

1. Contact with a colonized person, an actively infected person, a host, or a fomite is the most frequent route of transmission in the OR.
2. Body fluids (blood, urine, CSF) are a method of transmission that depends on access to a mucosal surface or a break in the integrity of the skin barrier.
3. Droplet transmission is the transfer of infectious particles via suspension in large fluid droplets such as those released during coughing or sneezing which travel short distances.
4. Airborne transmission is similar to droplet transmission with the exception that the particles are small enough to remain suspended in air and travel in air currents.