To prevent the spread of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), a healthcare provider should be cautious about which action?

The most appropriate action to focus on for preventing the spread of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) involves the safe handling and disposal of food trays. While all options listed are important practices in healthcare settings, managing food trays directly relates to the transmission routes of HAV, which primarily spread through the fecal-oral route. This means that contaminated food or surfaces can be a significant source of infection. Adopting stringent hygiene practices for food handling, including proper disposal of trays used by infected individuals, helps minimize the risk of the virus spreading within the healthcare environment.

Administering vaccinations is an important preventive measure against HAV, but it pertains more to immunization strategies than to immediate action regarding infection control. Frequent hand washing is critical in overall infection control and personal hygiene practices; however, it is more about preventing various infections rather than specifically addressing the spread of Hepatitis A through food contamination. Using gloves during examinations is a key practice for protection and prevention of many infections but does not directly target the primary transmission pathway associated with Hepatitis A, which is often linked to food handlers or food items. Thus, the action that specifically addresses the prevention of HAV spread is the proper disposal of food trays.