Ideally, if aerosol droplet nuclei are not generated (aerosolized) then exposure is eliminated; and no further controls are needed.
Since it is not possible to eliminate all exposure, environmental strategies such as improved ventilation must be added to reduce the concentration of mycobacterial droplet nuclei in the air.
Personal respiratory protection equipment such as respirators and masks block the droplet nuclei from being inhaled but are not effective without establishing the other two strategies and should be used in situations that pose a relatively high risk for exposure to TB.
