What type of transmission is associated with Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily associated with airborne transmission. This means that the bacteria responsible for TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. Others can inhale these droplets, leading to potential infection. This mode of transmission highlights the importance of airborne precautions in healthcare settings and during outbreaks, as well as the necessity for proper ventilation.

Other types of transmission such as direct contact, vector-borne transmission, and surface contact do not pertain to how TB is primarily spread. Direct contact typically involves transmission through physical touch, vector-borne involves organisms like mosquitoes or ticks carrying pathogens, and surface contact refers to the spread of germs through contaminated surfaces. None of these modes accurately reflect the transmission dynamics of TB, confirming that airborne transmission is the appropriate mode of spread for this disease.