Texas Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

How is tuberculosis most commonly transmitted?

1. By touching contaminated surfaces

2. By sharing utensils

3. By coughing

4. By contact with infected animals

The correct answer is: By coughing

Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily a respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it is most commonly transmitted through the air. When a person with active TB disease coughs, sneezes, talks, or sings, they can release tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. Other individuals can inhale these airborne droplets, leading to transmission of the infection. This method of transmission makes close contact with an infected person the key factor in the spread of TB. The other options provided do not accurately reflect the primary method of TB transmission. For instance, while touching contaminated surfaces or sharing utensils may facilitate the spread of some infections, they are not significant routes for TB, which does not survive well outside of the body. Similarly, contact with infected animals is not a known transmission route for tuberculosis in humans, as TB primarily affects humans and is spread through human-to-human contact.