Final answer:
A food handler with jaundice should be excluded from a nursing home to prevent spreading foodborne illnesses. Protective measures and strict hygiene protocols must be implemented to safeguard vulnerable populations. Foods commonly associated with contamination include unpasteurized dairy products and raw meats.
Step-by-step explanation:
A food handler should be excluded from operations in a nursing home if they present with jaundice, a sign of liver dysfunction, which can indicate a foodborne illness. Foodborne illnesses can be caused by contaminated food like leafy greens, fresh fruits, shellfish, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The specified symptoms suggest that the individual could transmit infections, particularly to vulnerable populations, such as those in nursing homes.
To prevent contamination, personnel who work with infected patients or specimens should take precautions including wearing protective equipment and following strict hygiene protocols. Foods often associated with contamination include eggs, raw meats, unpasteurized products, and items handled by people without subsequent cooking. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of contracting foodborne illnesses.
When a food handler shows signs of possible infection, such as jaundice, exclusion from food handling duties is a critical step in protecting public health, alongside thorough cleaning and designating only healthy individuals to handle food.