Final answer:
The physical transfer of an infectious agent to a susceptible host through close or intimate contact is referred to as direct contact transmission. It can occur by touch between people or through contact with contaminated surfaces and also includes other forms such as biological and sexual transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical transfer of an infectious agent to a susceptible host through close or intimate contact is known as direct contact transmission. This type of transmission can occur in various ways, such as when infected persons touch non-infected persons or when infected individuals come into contact with objects, which are then touched by non-infected persons. Indirect contact transmission involves the transfer of an infectious agent between hosts through contact with a fomite, which is an inanimate object that can carry pathogens. Another transmission method is biological transmission, which occurs when an arthropod carries the viral pathogen inside its body and transmits it to a new host through biting. Sexual transmission is a specific type of direct contact transfer that occurs during sexual activity, while vertical transmission refers to the passage of pathogens from a pregnant woman to her embryo or fetus, or to her infant during or soon after birth.