Universal Measures to Prevent Infections During Pregnancy

• Avoid close or intimate contact with adults with communicable respiratory diseases, acute or recent fever or flu like symptoms. To prevent respiratory infections, avoid:
  - Kissing
  - Sharing food utensils, drinking from the same container
   
• Wash hands frequently and, if available, use alcohol gel after shaking hands and before eating

• Use male latex condoms consistently and correctly.
  - Carefully handle the condom to avoid damaging.
  - Put the condom on after the penis is erect and before any genital, oral, or anal contact with the partner
  - To prevent the condom from slipping off, hold the condom firmly against the base of the penis during withdrawal, and withdraw while the penis is still erect.
  - Do not use the condom more than once
   
• Use female condoms correctly
   
• Avoid receptive oral sex with a partner with oral herpes or intercourse during the third trimester with men who have genital herpes.
   
• Ensure that all sexual contacts of individuals treated for STIs are linked to care and receive STI treatment.

• Mastitis or nipple fissures in a woman living with HIV may increase the risk of HIV transmission, especially if bleeding or discharging. Avoid breastfeeding from the affected breast. Express milk from the affected breast. If only one breast is affected, the infant can feed from the unaffected side, and feeding more often and for longer increases milk production. If both breasts are affected, she will not be able to feed from either side. The mother will need to express her milk from both breasts. Breastfeeding can resume when one or both breast/s have recovered. The healthcare worker may need to discuss other feeding options for her to use in the meantime.
   
• Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. Infected tools can transmit hepatitis B or other infections
   
• Do not share personal care items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes).
   
• Avoid using drugs. Do not share needles or other equipment related to drug use

• Careful hand washing with soap and running water and, if available at home, use alcohol gel rub after
  - exposure to a child’s bodily fluids and diaper changes
  - bathing the child or handling dirty laundry
  - touching the child’s toys and other objects 
   
• Avoid close or intimate contact with the child such as

   - kissing on the mouth or cheek (kiss them on the head or give them a hug)
   - sleeping together,
   - sharing towels and washcloths,

•  Avoid contact with baby’s saliva while feeding
  - sharing or tasting foods with the same utensils (spoons, forks)
  - drinking from the same container

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked lamb, pork, beef or poultry. Cook all meat until it is no longer pink, and the juices run clear. Reheat any processed meat until steaming
   
• Do not eat food that has passed its expiry date
   
• Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products (including all soft cheeses)
   
• Peel or wash raw fruit and vegetables thoroughly.
   
• Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods or fluids from their packages.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat

• Always use Insecticide-treated bed nets if you live in a malaria endemic area.