Infectious mononucleosis
June 20, 2014 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring
A few days ago, I (30 years old) may have accidentally switched my beer bottle with that of another guest of similar age at a party. Although I wiped the bottle neck as a precaution, I ended up drinking the contents. In hindsight, I wonder if the saliva that may have run back into the bottle while drinking from what I thought was my own could have contained EB viruses, potentially infecting me with mononucleosis. Now, I am going on vacation in a few weeks and I definitely don't want to get sick, so I have these questions: Is transmission possible in this way? Would the pathogens survive in sufficient numbers in the beverage? If the infected saliva were ingested with the beer, could the germs colonize the throat? These questions may sound a bit strange, but I would still appreciate an answer.
Good day,
While it is theoretically possible that individual EBV viruses may still be present on the bottle neck, the likelihood of becoming infected by them is close to zero. Most adults have already come into contact with EBV viruses (95 to 98% of 40-year-olds have already had an EBV infection!), which is often unnoticed; only occasionally does it appear as infectious mononucleosis. You will have specific and nonspecific immune defenses that will not give the viruses a chance.
Additionally, they will be immediately inactivated in the stomach, and have little opportunity to establish themselves during the brief time in the oral passage.
I cannot tell you how long they survive in beer, but for the above reasons, it is not important.
You will be able to enjoy your vacation!
Warm regards, Dr. Höllering
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