Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

How is impetigo typically transmitted?

1. Airborne particles

2. Direct skin-to-skin contact

3. Vector-borne transmission

4. Contaminated food and water

The correct answer is: Direct skin-to-skin contact

Impetigo is primarily transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact, particularly when an individual comes into contact with the lesions or fluid from blisters of someone who has the infection. This transmission is common in children who may play together and can easily spread the bacteria responsible for impetigo, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. The condition often arises in settings where close contact occurs, such as schools or daycare centers, making direct contact the most significant mode of spread. The other options, while valid modes of transmission for other infections, do not apply to impetigo. Airborne particles are typically associated with respiratory infections, vector-borne transmission involves pathogens that are transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes or ticks, and contaminated food and water are ways other diseases can be spread, but not impetigo. Understanding the transmission mechanism is vital for effective prevention and control measures in communal environments.