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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffInfectious agents can enter your body through:
- Skin contact or injuries
- Inhalation of airborne germs
- Ingestion of contaminated food or water
- Tick or mosquito bites
- Sexual contact
Follow these tips to decrease your risk of infecting yourself or others:
- Wash your hands. This is especially important before and after preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet.
- Get vaccinated. Immunization can drastically reduce your chances of contracting many diseases. Make sure to keep your recommended vaccinations, as well as your children's, up to date.
- Stay home. Don't go to work if you are vomiting, have diarrhea or are running a fever. Don't send your child to school if he or she has these signs and symptoms, either.
- Prepare food safely. Keep counters and other kitchen surfaces clean when preparing meals. In addition, promptly refrigerate leftovers — don't let cooked foods remain at room temperature for extended periods of time.
- Practice safe sex. Use condoms if you or your partner has a history of sexually transmitted diseases or high-risk behavior.
- Don't share personal items. Use your own toothbrush, comb and razor. Avoid sharing drinking glasses or dining utensils.
- Travel wisely. Don't fly when you're ill. With so many people confined to a small area, you may infect other passengers on the plane. And your trip won't be comfortable, either. If you're traveling out of the country, talk to your doctor about any special immunizations you may need.
References
- Understanding microbes in sickness and in health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/documents/microbesbook.pdf. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Facts about infectious diseases. Infectious Diseases Society of America. http://www.idsociety.org/factsaboutid.html. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Routes of transmission. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1166387393&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00013-8--s0105&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=254689631-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00013-8--s0105. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Anti-infective therapy. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00018-7&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=254689631-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..X0001-X--s40. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Infectious disease report. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/infectious-disease-report/pages/ch1text.html. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/docs/oop_brochure_eng.pdf. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Johnson KS, et al. Lumbar puncture: Technique; indications; contraindications; and complications in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 2, 2011.
- Oehler RL, et al. "Down boy!" Infectious diseases spread by cats and dogs. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2009;17:298.
- Curtis V, et al. Hygiene: New hopes, new horizons. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2011;11:312.
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