Dear Ms. Tolentino:

Since laboratory studies have shown that bacteria and viruses can contaminate a silver chalice and survive despite the alcohol content of the vine and wiping or rotating the cup, the potential exists for an ill parishioner or asymptomatic carrier to expose other members of the congregation by contaminating a common cup. If any diseases are transmitted by this practice, they most likely would be common viral illnesses such as the common cold. However, transmission of other illnesses cannot be excluded.

We are not aware of any specific episodes or outbreaks of illness that have been associated with use of a common communion cup. However, it is important to understand that health officials would only become aware of a health risk from such a practice if it resulted in the transmission of unusual diseases or large clusters of common illnesses and subsequent investigation were successful in determining the vehicle of transmission. Viral respiratory disease might be transmitted frequently by a common cup, but the association may not be recognized or the disease may be attributed to respiratory or other forms of person-to-person contact. We are not aware of any epidemiologic studies that have attempted to study the importance of a common communion cup in disease transmission. The lack of documented occurrence of disease is reassuring that the practice is not gravely hazardous, but it should not imply that there are no risks.

In summary, we cannot quantitate a risk for disease transmission by use of a common communion cup nor can we provide a medical endorsement that the practice is safe.

I hope this information will be helpful to you.

Sincerely yours,

D. Peter Drotman, M.D., M.P.H.
Medical Epidemiologist
AIDS Branch
Division of Viral Diseases
Center for Infectious Diseases