A nurse is teaching a client who has hepatitis A about preventing transmission of the virus. Which of the following strategies should the nurse include in the teaching?

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning the virus is shed in the stool of infected individuals and spreads when contaminated fecal matter enters the mouth, typically through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Effective hand hygiene is the single most critical strategy for preventing HAV transmission, because thorough handwashing with soap and water after using the toilet and before handling food physically removes the virus from the hands and breaks the fecal-oral chain of transmission. The option to avoid serving raw foods is partially relevant — HAV can be inactivated by heat, so cooking food thoroughly reduces risk — but it is not the most comprehensive or universally applicable prevention strategy for the client at home in all circumstances. Wearing barrier protection during vaginal intercourse is primarily a precaution for sexually transmitted infections spread through blood or bodily fluids, such as hepatitis B and C or HIV; while HAV can theoretically be transmitted sexually via fecal-oral contact, it is not primarily a bloodborne pathogen, making this option secondary. Avoiding fast food restaurants is overly restrictive and not an evidence-based, specific recommendation for HAV prevention. Hand hygiene addresses the root transmission mechanism of HAV and is the cornerstone of the public health prevention strategy for this disease.