Which mode of transmission would involve touching an infected surface and then touching your face?

The correct answer is indirect contact transmission. This mode of transmission occurs when a person comes into contact with a contaminated surface or object (known as a fomite) and then transfers the infectious agent to themselves by touching their face, particularly the eyes, nose, or mouth. This pathway illustrates how pathogens can spread without direct physical contact with an infected individual, making indirect contact transmission a significant route for infections.

Direct transmission, in contrast, would involve an infected person transferring infectious agents directly to another person through actions such as touching, kissing, or sexual contact. Bloodborne transmission specifically refers to the transmission of pathogens via blood or bodily fluids, often through needle sharing or transfusions. Vector transmission involves the spread of infectious agents through organisms like mosquitoes or ticks, which are not directly involved in the scenario of touching a surface and then one’s face.