Final answer:
The three isolation categories are airborne, contact, and droplet. Airborne transmission can occur through inhalation of pathogens from coughs or sneezes, contact transmission through skin-to-skin or surface touch, and droplet transmission affects those in close proximity to an infected person's respiratory droplets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three categories of isolation protocols are airborne, contact, and droplet. For example, airborne pathogens such as flu and cold viruses can be spread through droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by others, leading to new infections. Contact transmission can occur when people touch the same surfaces or have skin-to-skin contact which can lead to the transmission of diseases such as athlete's foot or warts. Droplet transmission is a form of transmission where large droplets that contain pathogens affect individuals within close proximity when an infected person coughs or sneezes.