What route of transmission occurs when a dental healthcare professional contacts a contaminated surface without the protection of PPE?

The correct answer is based on the concept of how pathogens can spread through indirect transmission, which occurs when a person comes into contact with contaminated surfaces, instruments, or materials that are not directly involved in a human-to-human interaction. In a dental healthcare setting, if a dental professional touches a surface that has been contaminated by blood, saliva, or other infectious materials, they are at risk of transferring those pathogens to themselves, and this action exemplifies indirect transmission.

Using personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves serves as a barrier to prevent this type of transmission. Without the use of PPE, the dental professional could easily come into contact with pathogens left on surfaces, thereby allowing for the potential spread of infection. Indirect transmission is crucial to understand in infection control because it highlights the importance of maintaining cleanliness and using effective disinfection protocols to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

In contrast, airborne, direct, and blood-borne transmission represent different pathways through which infections can spread, but they do not specifically address the scenario of contacting a contaminated surface without PPE, which is distinctly characterized as indirect transmission.