Droplet spray or droplet infection is the primary way respiratory infections are transmitted.

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Droplet transmission is the usual way many respiratory infections spread. When an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes, they release larger respiratory droplets that travel only short distances and tend to land on nearby mucous membranes or contaminate surfaces. Because these droplets don’t stay suspended in the air for long and don’t travel far, close contact within about a meter is typically enough for transmission, making this the primary route for many common respiratory infections. In contrast, true airborne transmission involves much smaller particles that can remain airborne longer and travel farther, which is characteristic of certain diseases like measles or tuberculosis. Bloodborne and direct skin contact are not respiratory transmission routes. For embalmers, this emphasizes the importance of droplet precautions such as masks and eye protection, along with diligent hand hygiene, and heightened precautions if procedures could generate aerosols.