infections
Toxoplasmosis
Prevention of Toxoplasmosis
Pregnant women should avoid contact with cats. If contact is unavoidable, pregnant women should at least avoid cleaning cat litter boxes or wear gloves when doing so. Gloves should also be worn while gardening to avoid contact with soil. Meat should be cooked thoroughly, to a temperature of 165 to 170° F (74 to 77° C), and hands should be washed thoroughly after handling raw meat, soil, or cat litter. Potential organ donors should be tested to prevent the spread of the parasite through transplanted organs. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (an antibiotic) may be used to prevent reactivation of toxoplasmosis in certain people with AIDS or other conditions that cause the immune system to be weakened. People who cannot take this medication may be givenpyrimethamine(an antiprotozoan medication) plussulfadiazineorclindamycin(antibiotics). Other options areatovaquone(an antiprotozoan medication) with or withoutpyrimethamine, ordapsonewithpyrimethamine. Becausepyrimethaminecan decrease blood cell production in the bone marrow,leucovorin(also called folinic acid) is given with it to help protect against this side effect. People with AIDS are also given Antiretroviral Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection , which help strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk that toxoplasmosis will be reactivated. 