What’s the best way to stay disease-free? Prevent infections. You can prevent infection through simple tactics, such as washing your hands regularly, being careful with food and water, getting vaccinations, and taking appropriate medications.
Hand-washing.
Often overlooked, hand-washing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself from germs and most infections. Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing or eating food, after coughing or sneezing, after changing a diaper, and after using the toilet. When soap and water aren’t available, alcohol-based hand-sanitizing gels can offer protection.


Vaccines.
Vaccination is your best line of defense for certain diseases. As researchers understand more about what causes disease, the list of vaccine-preventable diseases continues to grow. Many vaccines are given in childhood, but adults still need to be routinely vaccinated to prevent some illnesses, such as tetanus and influenza.
Medicines.
Some medicines offer short-term protection from particular germs. For example, taking an anti-parasitic medication might keep you from contracting malaria if you travel to or live in a high-risk area.
When to seek medical care

Seek medical care if you suspect that you have an infection and you have experienced any of the following:
An animal or human bite
Difficulty breathing
A cough lasting longer than a week
Periods of rapid heartbeat
A rash, especially if it’s accompanied by a fever
Swelling
Blurred vision or other difficulty seeing
Persistent vomiting
An unusual or severe headache