What singular action effectively mitigates the risk associated with accidental ingestion of contaminants transferred from an earthworm's surface?
Answer
Always washing hands with soap and water after handling soil or creatures pulled from the ground
The core principle emphasized for managing the low but present risk associated with soil-dwelling creatures is diligent personal hygiene. Establishing a protocol where hands are thoroughly washed with soap and water immediately following contact with soil, compost, or creatures extracted from the ground serves as the most significant barrier. This singular action effectively removes potential contaminants, such as bacterial slime or ingested parasite eggs like *Toxocara*, from the hands before they can be accidentally transferred to the mouth, eyes, or food items, thus neutralizing the primary risk vector associated with terrestrial handling.
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