Yes, you can get strep throat from smoking with someone.
The Cause and Standard Spread of Strep Throat
Strep throat is a common bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS), also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacterium typically colonizes the nose and throat of an infected person. The infection is highly contagious and spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, which are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These tiny droplets can be inhaled by others in close proximity, leading to a new infection.
GAS can also spread through direct contact with infected mucus or saliva. The bacteria can survive outside the body on inanimate objects, which are known as fomites. GAS can persist on hard surfaces like metal or plastic for up to 48 hours, depending on factors like temperature and humidity. If an infected person touches a surface and a healthy person touches that same surface and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes, transmission is possible.
Direct Risk of Sharing Smoking Materials
Sharing smoking materials, such as cigarettes, vapes, joints, or hookah mouthpieces, creates a high-risk scenario for transmitting strep throat. These items function as highly efficient fomites because they facilitate direct oral-to-oral contact via a shared object. When a person with strep throat puts the item to their lips, they transfer saliva and respiratory secretions directly onto that surface. The bacteria-laden saliva is then immediately transferred to the next person who uses the same object.
This direct transfer bypasses the need for airborne transmission or secondary contact with a contaminated surface. The mouthpiece provides a direct pathway for the bacteria to enter the new host’s mouth and throat. For devices like vapes and hookah mouthpieces, the retained warmth and moisture may help sustain the viability of the bacteria. The risk is not dependent on the substance being smoked but rather on the act of sharing an item that makes contact with the lips and mouth.
Practical Measures to Avoid Oral Transmission
The most effective way to prevent the oral transmission of strep throat is to strictly avoid sharing items that come into contact with the mouth. This includes smoking materials, drinking glasses, water bottles, eating utensils, and food. Refraining from sharing personal items significantly reduces the risk of transferring saliva-borne bacteria.
Practicing frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is another preventive measure. If soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used. This hygiene practice minimizes the chance of picking up the bacteria from contaminated surfaces and transferring them to the face.
Proper respiratory etiquette, such as covering the mouth and nose with an elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, helps limit the spread of infectious respiratory droplets. If a person has been diagnosed with strep throat, they should remain home until they have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours, as this greatly reduces their contagiousness. Regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces in shared environments also helps eliminate any GAS bacteria.