There is a risk of infection when eating with a TB patient because TB is spread mainly through respiratory droplets. When a person with TB coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, sings, etc., he or she can spread droplets of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the air, where they can survive for hours, and other people who breathe them in are at risk of being infected. You should keep a distance from TB patients and wear a mask when you meet them to avoid infection. To avoid infecting others, TB patients should know how to cough and refrain from spitting. Sputum from TB patients should be spit into a spittoon with disinfectant, a tissue, or a closed pocket.