Final answer:
The bacteria present in the sputum of a person infected with tuberculosis are spread through the air via droplets when the person coughs or sneezes. The correct answer is d) Sputum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacteria present in the sputum of the person infected with tuberculosis are spread when the person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. The correct answer to this question is d) Sputum. Tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB, is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB primarily affects the lungs, but it can also impact other parts of the body. An infected person can release TB bacteria into the air through droplets from their respiratory system when performing actions such as coughing or sneezing.
Once inhaled, these droplets carry the bacteria to the alveoli in the lungs. There, the bacteria can be engulfed by immune cells called macrophages. Despite being phagocytized, the bacteria can survive within these cells thanks to the waxy mycolic acid in their cell walls. Without proper immune response, the bacteria can multiply, leading to the formation of lesions called tubercles and potential tissue damage. In addition, the rupture of tubercles can release bacteria into the air, increasing the risk of person-to-person transmission.
Public health guidelines emphasize measures to prevent the spread of TB, including the use of face masks and proper ventilation systems in spaces where TB patients are cared for. Understanding how tuberculosis is transmitted is critical to controlling the spread of this disease, which can be found worldwide.