Prevention

The best practice for preventing blastocystis infection is practicing good hygiene:

• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating
• Keep cooking surfaces clean
• Wash your hands frequently

Handwashing tips

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When you can't use soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wash your hands frequently, particularly:

• Before, during and after meal preparation
• After using the toilet
• After changing a diaper or helping a child use the toilet
• After helping a person who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• After touching animals or handling animal food or feces
• After handling garbage
• Before and after cleaning a cut or wound

Travel tips

When you travel, you can take steps to lower your risk of exposure to blastocystis. A general guideline is to avoid eating what you can't boil, cook or peel. More specifically, avoid:

• Food from street vendors
• Unpasteurized milk and dairy products, including ice cream
• Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish or eggs
• Food at room temperature, such as sauces and buffet offerings
• Fresh greens; foods that can't be peeled, such as berries; fruits or vegetables that you did not peel yourself
• Frozen pops and flavored ice
• Dishes or condiments made with uncooked fruits or vegetables

Safe drinking-water tips

If you're visiting a country with poor sanitation or possible unsafe drinking water, use the following tips:

• Avoid unsterilized water — from tap, well or stream.
• If you need to use unsterilized water for drinking or washing food items, boil the water for at least three minutes and let it cool.
• Use a chemical purifier for water — usually a combination of bleach and iodine — that is often available at a sporting goods store.
• Avoid ice cubes or beverages made with tap water.
• Keep your mouth closed while showering.
• Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
• Make sure hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, are steaming hot.
• Drink bottled beverages from original, unopened containers after cleaning them.