Sharing utensils or foodware is a potential means of spreading a contagious disease.
Examples:
(1) family gathering
(2) wine tasting
(3) religious ceremonies with sacramental sharing
(4) passing a bottle of alcohol around a group
Potential sources of pathogens:
(1) saliva
(2) blood (if there is periodontitis)
(3) direct spread if open lesions on lips
Risk factors for becoming infected:
(1) extent of the exposure
(2) number of infectious particles needed for oral transmission
(3) immunodeficiency
Viruses that may be spread when sharing utensils or foodware include:
(1) Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
(2) hepatitis B or A
(3) Herpes simplex virus
(4) Herpes zoster virus
(5) HHV-8
(6) norovirus
(7) coronavirus
(8) influenza virus
(9) Ebola virus
(10) Rubella (measles)
(11) HIV (uncertain, low if antiretroviral suppression)
Bacteria that may be spread when sharing utensils or foodware
(1) Neisseria meningitidis
(2) Neisseria gonorrhea (with oropharyngeal gonorrhea)
(3) syphilis (in secondary stage)
(4) Shigella sonnei
(5) Streptococcus pneumoniae
Theoretically possible but probably low probability:
(1) hepatitis C virus
Differential diagnosis:
(1) airborne transmission of pathogens in a group (tuberculosis, coronavirus, etc)
