Infection prevention tips you can use today
Want to cut your chance of catching or spreading infections without turning your life upside down? Small, consistent actions beat occasional heroics. Here are practical, evidence-backed infection prevention tips you can start doing right now.
Everyday habits that cut risk
Wash your hands properly. Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds—sing the "happy birthday" tune twice if that helps. Do it after using the bathroom, before eating, after handling groceries, and after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60%+ alcohol).
Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands. Toss tissues immediately and wash your hands. This keeps droplets off surfaces and reduces spread to people around you.
Wear a mask when you’re in crowded indoor spaces during a surge or if you’re around people at high risk. Masks aren’t forever fashion statements—they’re simple shields that lower your chance of inhaling airborne germs.
Stay home when you’re sick. It’s tempting to push through, but staying home for the first 24–48 hours of symptoms (or until fever-free for 24 hours without meds) prevents a lot of transmission at work, school, and social events.
Home, travel, and everyday surfaces
Air matters. Open windows or run an exhaust fan when possible to move stale indoor air outside. In poorly ventilated spaces, even a small box fan near a window can help. Better ventilation lowers the concentration of airborne germs.
Clean high-touch surfaces regularly—door handles, light switches, phone screens, and remote controls. You don’t need bleach every day; a household disinfectant or diluted bleach solution works well for areas someone sick has touched.
Handle food safely. Wash fruits and veggies, cook meats to safe temperatures, and avoid cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat items. Foodborne infections often come from simple lapses in the kitchen.
Care for cuts and wounds properly. Clean with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment if needed, and cover with a bandage. Keep an eye on redness, swelling, or pus—those are signs you should see a clinician.
Use antibiotics wisely. They don’t work for viral infections like colds or most sore throats. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily breeds resistant bacteria, making future infections harder to treat. If a doctor prescribes one, finish the course unless instructed otherwise.
Protect the people who need it most. Keep up-to-date with vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and other recommended shots. Vaccines reduce your risk of serious illness and lower the chance you’ll pass infections on to infants, older adults, or people with weak immune systems.
Travel smart. Check local health advisories before you go. Carry a small hygiene kit—hand sanitizer, a few masks, and disinfecting wipes. If you feel sick during travel, wear a mask and avoid close contact with others.
Want a quick checklist? Wash hands, cover coughs, improve ventilation, stay home if sick, clean high-touch surfaces, use vaccines correctly, and avoid unnecessary antibiotics. Those moves together cut a lot of common infections.
If you’re worried about a specific symptom or exposure, talk to a healthcare provider. These tips reduce risk, but they don’t replace medical advice when something feels wrong.
Tips for preventing fungal infections and the need for ketoconazole treatment
In my latest blog, I've shared some handy tips for preventing fungal infections so you can potentially avoid the need for treatments like ketoconazole. We dive into the importance of maintaining good hygiene, keeping your skin dry and clean, and wearing breathable fabrics to prevent a conducive environment for fungi. We also touch on the importance of a healthy diet to boost your immune system. If you do get an infection, don't panic because treatments like ketoconazole are there to help. But remember, prevention is always better than cure!