# A question of infectiousness **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400 "2007-04-16T23:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/1 "2007-04-16T23:34:08Z")
After being diagnosed with Pneumonitis, I have been taking one Amox-Clav 875 MG tablet twice daily every 12 hours. If I started on Tuesday, would I be likely to be infectious on Saturday afternoon? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/2 "2007-04-16T23:35:48Z")
IANAD so I won’t make a guess But I would guess no ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/3 "2007-04-17T00:21:33Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] After being diagnosed with Pneumonitis, I have been taking one Amox-Clav 875 MG tablet twice daily every 12 hours. If I started on Tuesday, would I be likely to be infectious on Saturday afternoon? [/QUOTE] Without a specific etiology (identification of the organism) this question cannot be answered. For most germs, bacterial or viral, no. And not necessarily because you are taking the antibiotic. Your body will have had a chance to develop antibodies and make you less infective. If you aren’t going to cough or spit on people and if you can keep your hands washed and if you aren’t going to be around people with weakened immune systems you probably don’t need to worry. If it ends up that you had TB don’t use this as a source for your medical advice. It is a very broad statement inapplicable to your particular circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/4 "2007-04-17T01:50:02Z")
[QUOTE=Chief Pedant] Without a specific etiology (identification of the organism) this question cannot be answered. For most germs, bacterial or viral, no. And not necessarily because you are taking the antibiotic. Your body will have had a chance to develop antibodies and make you less infective. If you aren’t going to cough or spit on people and if you can keep your hands washed and if you aren’t going to be around people with weakened immune systems you probably don’t need to worry. If it ends up that you had TB don’t use this as a source for your medical advice. It is a very broad statement inapplicable to your particular circumstance. [/QUOTE] No Tb, thank God. Thank you for the input. I can breathe a little easier. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/5 "2007-04-17T03:51:23Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] No Tb, thank God. Thank you for the input. I can breathe a little easier. [/QUOTE] Just so long as you breath in someone elses direction. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-of-infectiousness/400400/6 "2007-04-17T13:14:13Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Just so long as you breath in someone elses direction. [/QUOTE] I’ll be sure to, **Joey**.