How is military tuberculosis primarily spread?

Prepare for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Board Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations. Ace your board exam!

Military tuberculosis, which refers to the disseminated form of tuberculosis that affects multiple organs, is primarily spread through aerosol droplets. This mode of transmission occurs when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing tiny droplets that can be inhaled by others nearby, leading to infection.

While the other options may represent various transmission pathways for different diseases or situations, they do not apply to military tuberculosis. Hematological spread, or transmission through blood, is not a recognized method of spreading tuberculosis. Contact with infected surfaces is also not a typical route of transmission for tuberculosis, as the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis primarily requires inhalation to establish infection. Lastly, ingestion of contaminated food does not play a role in the transmission of tuberculosis, as it's not typically spread through food consumption.

Understanding that tuberculosis is primarily an airborne disease highlights the importance of respiratory precautions in healthcare settings, particularly when dealing with patients who may have this condition.

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