How does TB transmission occur?

• Droplet infection
• Direct contact with any body fluids if a person is infected with Miliary TB
• Sexually, particularly oral and anal sex.
• Congenital.
• Through the skin especially if the skin has cuts e.g. shaking hands (infected person may have coughed into their hand, touched faecal matter), other contact with infected person and their clothing and possessions.
• Handling TB infected animals, their body fluids, meat, and milk. It causes various types of skin lesions, one of which, Erythema Nodosum, starts off as red lesions which several weeks later turn bluish purple then fade through the colour changes of a bruise.
• Blood transfusion
• Contaminated needles
• Handling (and taking off) used contaminated condoms.
• Ingestion of unpasteurised cow and goat milk and milk products.
• Ingestion of TB infected meat.
• Via the soil. Walking on contaminated soil with bare feet with fresh cuts.