Strep throat is a highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. The close proximity of a shared living space makes households a common site for transmission, often resulting in multiple family members becoming ill. Understanding how this bacterium moves through your environment and implementing preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk of secondary infections. This guide provides steps to protect healthy individuals when one family member is diagnosed.
How Strep Throat Spreads
The transmission of S. pyogenes occurs through airborne respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These bacteria-containing droplets can be directly inhaled by others nearby. Direct contact with oral or nasal secretions, such as kissing, also facilitates the spread.
Indirect transmission occurs when contaminated droplets land on surfaces or objects, creating what are known as fomites. Strep bacteria can survive on dry surfaces for hours. A healthy person contracts the infection by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth, allowing the bacteria to enter the body.
Personal Practices for Minimizing Exposure
Hand hygiene is the most effective personal defense against contracting the infection. Healthy family members should wash their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, scrubbing the palms, back of the hands, and under the fingernails. When soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Isolation protocols should be enacted for the sick individual, ideally limiting them to one room and, if possible, a separate bathroom. Avoid sharing any personal items that come into contact with saliva or mucus, including:
- Drinking glasses
- Eating utensils
- Towels
- Toothbrushes
- Lip balms
The sick person should use disposable tissues to cover all coughs and sneezes, immediately discarding them into a lined trash receptacle. The use of a face mask by the infected person helps contain respiratory droplets. Caregivers who must be in close contact should also wear a mask. All family members must stop touching their own face, particularly the eyes, nose, and mouth, as this is a common route for self-inoculation.
Cleaning and Disinfecting the Shared Environment
Disinfecting high-touch surfaces is important because S. pyogenes can persist in the environment. Focus cleaning efforts on items handled frequently, such as:
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Remote controls
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets
- Shared electronics
These surfaces should be wiped down daily using a disinfectant registered as effective against Group A Strep. A simple disinfectant solution can be prepared by mixing one part household bleach with nine parts water. Ensure the cleaning product remains wet on the surface for the manufacturer’s specified dwell time to guarantee the bacteria are inactivated. Toys and pacifiers used by the sick person should be cleaned either in a dishwasher on a sanitizing cycle or by wiping them with an appropriate disinfectant.
Bedding and clothing can easily become contaminated with secretions. Wash all items used by the sick person, including towels and bedding, separately from the rest of the household’s laundry. Use the warmest water setting allowable for the fabric type, or utilize a washing machine’s dedicated “sanitize” cycle. Complete the sanitization process by drying the items completely on the highest heat setting to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
Recognizing Symptoms and Knowing When to Test
The incubation period for strep throat is between two to five days after exposure. Healthy individuals should watch for the sudden onset of a sore throat, often accompanied by a fever. Other signs include white patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils and tiny, red spots, known as petechiae, on the roof of the mouth.
A person diagnosed with strep throat is usually no longer contagious 24 hours after they begin taking an antibiotic regimen. If a healthy family member develops characteristic symptoms, they should contact a healthcare provider for testing to confirm the diagnosis. Early detection and antibiotic treatment prevent further transmission within the home and reduce the risk of complications.