When can I go back to work after strep throat?

What is the basic rule for going back to work?

The CDC says people with strep throat should stay home from work, school or daycare until 2 things are both true: you have no fever, and at least 12 to 24 hours have passed since you started the right antibiotic. The CDC also says that 12 hours or more of the right antibiotic limits how well you can pass strep to others.

Other trusted sources lean toward the longer end. MedlinePlus says most people can spread strep until they have been on antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours, and it advises staying home from work until you have been on antibiotics for at least a day.

So the sources do not agree on one exact hour. A practical way to use them: treat 12 hours as the earliest point, and 24 hours as the safer target, especially if you work closely with people.

• Fever gone: you no longer have a fever.
• Antibiotic clock: count from your first dose, not from when you picked up the prescription.
• Close-contact job? Aim for at least 24 hours.

I work with food. Are the rules different?

Yes. The FDA Food Code, a model code that every state has adopted in some edition for its food safety rules, lists sore throat with fever as a symptom food workers must report to the person in charge. That applies even before you have a strep test result.

Under the Food Code, a food worker with sudden sore throat and fever is restricted from working with exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens and unwrapped single-use items. If you work somewhere that serves a highly susceptible population, such as a hospital, nursing home or child care center, you are excluded from work entirely.

To be reinstated, the Food Code says you need written medical documentation from a health practitioner showing 1 of these: you have had antibiotics for strep for more than 24 hours, you have at least 1 negative throat culture, or a health practitioner has decided you are free of strep. The FDA notes that strep throat can spread from hands to food and has caused outbreaks.

• Report it: tell your manager about sore throat with fever.
• Get a note: ask your clinician for written documentation before you go back.
• Check local rules: your state or county may use a different version of the Food Code.

I work in healthcare. When can I go back?

CDC guidance for healthcare personnel says a worker with known or suspected strep should be tested if possible and kept off work until strep is ruled out, or until 24 hours after starting an effective antibiotic. The CDC's strep throat guidance also says a 24-hour wait should be considered for a healthcare worker with strep.

If you are only exposed to someone with strep and have no symptoms, the CDC says you do not need work restrictions or preventive antibiotics. Your employee health office may have its own policy, so check with them before your next shift.

Can I stop my antibiotics once I am back at work?

No. The return-to-work timeline and the antibiotic course are separate. MedlinePlus says strep antibiotics should be taken for 10 days, even though symptoms are often gone within a few days. Most of the antibiotics the CDC lists for strep throat are 10-day courses. Azithromycin, an option for some people with a penicillin allergy, is given for 5 days.

Antibiotics are given partly to prevent rare but serious problems like rheumatic fever. Set a phone reminder for doses you need to take during your shift.

How do I avoid spreading strep at work?

The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water and not sharing cups, utensils or bites of food. MedlinePlus says strep spreads through contact with saliva or fluids from the nose, so a shared water bottle or a bite of a coworker's lunch counts as exposure.

Close contact is the most common risk factor for catching strep, according to the CDC. If you share a small office or a break room, wash your hands before touching shared items and cover coughs and sneezes.

What if I still feel sick after 1 or 2 days?

Most people feel better within a few days of starting antibiotics. MedlinePlus says to contact your provider if your symptoms do not get better within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment. If you still have a fever, you should stay home even if you have passed the 24-hour mark.

If your boss needs a note, our AI doctor can help you understand what a return-to-work note usually covers. A licensed clinician decides on prescriptions and signs any note.