Strep Throat & Contagiousness: What You Need to Know

Question
If being treated for strep throat with antibiotics, is it safe to be around another with the illness? Is it possible to just get even more sick?

Answer
Dear Doug,

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by the streptococcal bacteria. Unlike viruses, which your body builds an immunity against, bacteria can reinfection countless times. After being on an antibiotic for 24 hours, you are no longer contagious to others; however, you can continue to pass the bacteria back and forth if care is not taken to completely finish the prescribed antibiotic and use good hand hygiene and standard precautions.