Can a TB patient infect others?
Yes, if they have TB disease and it is not being treated. Once treatment begins, a patient ordinarily becomes quickly noninfectious; that is, they cannot spread the disease to others. There is little danger from the TB patient who is being treated, is taking his or her medication continuously, and is responding well. The drugs usually make the patient noninfectious within days or weeks. TB is spread by germs in the air, germs put there by coughing or sneezing. Infection is not spread by handling a patient’s bed sheets, books, furniture, or eating utensils. Brief exposure to a few TB germs rarely infects a person. It’s day-after-day close contact that usually does it.
