How Long Can Strep Bacteria Live on Surfaces? Strep Survival Time

How Long Can Strep Bacteria Survive on Surfaces?

Strep bacteria, also known as Streptococcus, are common germs that can cause a variety of illnesses. While some types lead to relatively mild infections like strep throat, others can trigger serious invasive diseases.

Understanding how long strep survives on surfaces is key for prevention. Read on to learn about the different types of strep, the diseases they cause, and how to protect yourself through proper cleaning.

Types of Streptococcus Bacteria

There are numerous strains and species of streptococcus bacteria. The major groups responsible for human illness include:

• Strep A: Causes strep throat and skin infections
• Strep B: Leads to pneumonia, meningitis in newborns
• Strep pneumoniae: Results in pneumonia, ear infections etc.
• Strep pyogenes: Drives skin diseases, toxic shock syndrome etc.

While conditions like strep throat often resolve, invasive strep disease where bacteria enters parts of the body like the lungs, blood or muscles can become life-threatening.

How Strep Spreads Between People

Strep transmission occurs through direct contact with mucus or droplets from an infected person. Coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated items also facilitate spread.

For those wondering how long does strep live on surfaces, viruses may survive hours to days outside the body depending on the strain and situation. Proper cleaning and disinfection helps prevent bacteria from infecting others via contaminated objects or materials.

How Long Strep A Lives on Surfaces

Group A Streptococcus (strep A) ranks among the most common bacterial causes of illness. This highly contagious germ brings risks both in medical settings and community settings.

Strep A Survival Time on Dry Surfaces

On dry, inanimate items like doorknobs, furniture, clothing and skin flakes, strep A survives approximately:

• 15-20 minutes on skin cells shed from infected people
• 1-2 days on non-porous surfaces like plastic, metals, and finished wood
• 5-7 days on porous materials like untreated wood, tissues, and cotton

This demonstrates why regularly sanitizing surfaces prone to contamination reduces odds of strep spread. Disinfecting kills bacteria lingering from an infected persons touch after just minutes to hours.

Strep A on Mucus & Saliva

Strep A thrives in the moist, nutrient rich environments of mucus and saliva inside the body. Unfortunately, these also provide ideal conditions for extended survival outside the body too.

On wet substances like mucus, saliva, or phlegm from an infected individual, group A strep survives approximately:

• Over 24 hours in saliva outside the body
• Up to 7 days in nasal mucus

This wet survival allows someone to get repeat strep A exposures from infected droplets or secretions present on surfaces or hands over an entire week.

How Long Strep B Persists on Objects

While not as common as strep A, group B streptococcus (strep B) also poses public health issues. This bacteria frequently colonizes the vagina and digestive tracts without symptoms but can turn invasive.

Strep B on Dry Inanimate Surfaces

On dry surfaces, strep B exhibits slightly longer survival than strep A. Research demonstrates streptococcus agalactiae (Group B) survives:

• Up to 4 days on glass
• 5 days on plastic
• 7 days on aluminum

For porous surfaces more hospitable to bacteria, strep B may persist over 7 days in some circumstances as moisture helps it endure longer.

Strep B in Mucus & Other Bodily Fluids

In nutritious environments like blood, strep B survives many hours longer compared to dry settings. Studies confirm it persists over:

• 7 days at room temperature in contaminated Mueller Hinton broth
• 14 days at 98.6F (37C) in trypticase soy broth
• Over 42 days in human blood stored at 39F (4C)

This displays why proper handling and disinfection of materials soiled by secretions requires great care to control streptococcal spread.

How Long Strep Pneumoniae Lasts on Objects

Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria behind pneumonia and meningitis, also occupies some attention regarding surface survival. This especially applies for vulnerable people like the elderly, children, or immunocompromised.

Strep Pneumoniae on Dry Inanimate Items

On dry, non-porous objects frequently touched by contaminated hands, strep pneumoniae survives approximately:

• Up to 5 days on plastics
• Around 24 hours on metals (like stainless steel)
• 1-4 hours on glass surfaces

As a bacteria well-adapted to replicate in warm, moist sites like lungs and blood, streptococcus pneumonia ultimately persists longer on porous items holding moisture and secretions.

Strep Pneumonia Survival in Mucus & Saliva

In respiratory droplets or secretions outside the body where it naturally thrives, strep pneumoniae survival reaches:

• 8-10 hours in moist saliva
• Up to 5 days in sterile sputum

Accordingly, proper guidelines for sanitizing contaminated surfaces, textiles, handkerchiefs etc. helps reduce infection transmission risks.

How to Prevent Strep Infections

Now that we know strep bacteria like Streptococcus pyogenes or Streptococcus pneumoniae can potentially survive days on surfaces, what prevention measures help? Consider these healthy habits and cleaning tips.

Handwashing

Frequent proper handwashing prevents transfer of strep from contaminated surfaces to your mouth or nose. Always use soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before eating or touching eyes, nose or mouth.

Sanitizing Surfaces

Regularly disinfect surfaces prone to touching/secretions in shared spaces like doorknobs, toilets, countertops etc. Ensure to use EPA approved agents effective against streptococcus bacteria.

Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth

Stop strep travelling from your hands to mucus membranes by keeping hands away from face unless just washed. Use disposable tissues to touch eyes, nose, or mouth instead.

Cover Coughs & Sneezes

Always cough/sneeze into inner elbow or tissue to prevent scattering infectious mucus droplets around. Immediately dispose of soiled tissues.

Avoid Sharing Personal Items

Prevent transfer of saliva or nasal secretions with strep through avoidance of sharing cups, bottles, lip products, cigarettes etc. with others.

Get Appropriate Vaccines

Immunizations like the pneumonia vaccine protect against dangerous invasive strep infections. Get recommended vaccines, plus flu shot for added protection.

When to Seek Medical Care

Be alert for signs of strep infection in yourself and loved ones. While mild strep throat often clears without treatment, rapidly progressive or invasive strep infections require urgent care.

Contact a health provider immediately if you develop:

• Difficulty breathing
• Rash suggestive of toxic shock syndrome
• High fever not improving with home treatment
• Severe pain, swelling with skin redness/warmth
• Stiff neck & headache suggesting meningitis
• Any condition that progresses or causes extreme distress

Catching strep infections early maximizes effective treatment and prevents serious complications. Do not hesitate seeking medical help even just for assessment after strep exposure if concerned.

The Takeaway

Strep bacteria like group A and group B streptococcus can potentially survive days on contaminated surfaces, especially in mucus and saliva. While strep throat usually resolves, invasive infection requires rapid medical help.

Using vigilance around sanitizing, handwashing, avoiding touching eyes/nose/mouth and related measures reduces disease transmission. But prompt care for worsening symptoms helps mitigate strep risks as well.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.