Transmission of an infectious organism in which the organism is truly suspended in the air and travels a meter or more from the source to the host. Chicken pox, flu, measles, and polio are examples of diseases that are caused by airborne agents.

Occurs by dissemination of either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue [5 µm or smaller] of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and may become inhaled by a susceptible host in the same room or over a longer distance from the source patient, depending on environmental factors.

Refers to dissemination of microorganisms by aerosolization. Organisms are contained in droplet nuclei or in dust particles containing skin cell slough/debris that remains suspended in the air for long periods of time. Such microorganisms are widely dispersed by air currents.