infections
Giardiasis
Prevention of Giardiasis
Giardiasis prevention requires Appropriate treatment of public water (including drinking water and water in swimming pools) Use of good hygiene when preparing food Good personal hygiene (for example, washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet) Avoiding contact with stool during sex Boiling water kills the parasite and is the safest way for hikers to ensure that water from streams and lakes is safe to drink. Water from streams and lakes can sometimes be disinfected using chlorine-containing compounds or iodine. This method is less reliable because its effectiveness varies depending on how cloudy or muddy the water is (turbidity) and what the water's temperature is. The amount of chlorine routinely used in drinking water may be insufficient to kill the cysts. Water filters that use reverse osmosis or have the words "tested and certified by NSF/ANSI Standard No. 53 or No. 58 for cyst removal/reduction" can remove cysts ofGiardiaand other protozoa as well as bacteria from water, but other filter systems may not be effective. 