A prenatal clinic nurse is instructing a client about toxoplasmosis prevention. Which statement indicates a need for further instruction?

A prenatal clinic nurse is instructing a client about toxoplasmosis prevention. Which statement indicates a need for further instruction?

• A. I should drink unpasteurized milk only.
• B. I should cook meat thoroughly.
• C. I should avoid contact with materials that are possibly contaminated with cat feces.
• D. I should avoid touching mucous membranes of the mouth or eyes while handling raw meat.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is preventing toxoplasmosis by blocking the common routes of transmission during pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii exposure is most often prevented by thoroughly cooking meat, avoiding handling or touching cat feces (especially cat litter) and washing hands after soil or animal contact, and avoiding touching the face after handling raw meat. Saying that you should drink unpasteurized milk only shows a misunderstanding because it suggests a single, inadequate preventive action and assigns a risky practice as the sole measure. Raw dairy can carry multiple pathogens, and while toxoplasmosis can be transmitted in various ways, relying on unpasteurized milk as the sole defense is incorrect. The correct approach emphasizes multiple protective steps—cook meat thoroughly, avoid contact with cat feces, and maintain good hand hygiene before touching the mouth or eyes or food—so this statement signals the need for further instruction.

The main idea is preventing toxoplasmosis by blocking the common routes of transmission during pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii exposure is most often prevented by thoroughly cooking meat, avoiding handling or touching cat feces (especially cat litter) and washing hands after soil or animal contact, and avoiding touching the face after handling raw meat. Saying that you should drink unpasteurized milk only shows a misunderstanding because it suggests a single, inadequate preventive action and assigns a risky practice as the sole measure. Raw dairy can carry multiple pathogens, and while toxoplasmosis can be transmitted in various ways, relying on unpasteurized milk as the sole defense is incorrect. The correct approach emphasizes multiple protective steps—cook meat thoroughly, avoid contact with cat feces, and maintain good hand hygiene before touching the mouth or eyes or food—so this statement signals the need for further instruction.