September marks Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM), and we're kicking off our favorite month with one of the most critical topics in dental infection prevention: Hand Hygiene. Keeping your hands clean is the simplest and most effective way to prevent the spread of infection.

Why Hand Hygiene Matters in Dentistry

Hand hygiene is vital for preventing pathogen transmission in dental settings. Your hands are the most common mode of pathogen transmission, and proper hand hygiene significantly reduces the risk of spreading infections among patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP). Patients expect dental professionals to perform hand hygiene as a standard of care, and adherence is routinely used as a clinical performance indicator in healthcare settings. [1]

What Is Hand Hygiene?

• Handwashing with plain or antimicrobial soap and water
• Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR) with at least 60% alcohol that do not require water

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DHCP should perform hand hygiene:

• When hands are visibly soiled (e.g., with blood or bodily fluids)
• After barehanded touching of instruments, equipment, materials, or other objects likely to be contaminated
• Before and after treating each patient, even if gloves are worn
• Immediately after removing gloves

If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water. Otherwise, use an alcohol-based hand rub. [1]

How to Perform Hand Hygiene

• Handwashing with Soap and Water: Wet hands, apply soap, and rub hands together for at least 15 - 20 seconds, covering all surfaces. Rinse and dry thoroughly with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet.
• Alcohol-Based Hand Rub: Apply the recommended amount to the palm and rub hands together, covering all surfaces until dry. Do not use if hands are visibly soiled.

Common Hand Hygiene Questions

Q: Do gloves replace the need for handwashing?
A: No. Gloves may have small defects that are hard to see or may be torn during use, and hands can become contaminated during removal of gloves. In addition, bacteria can multiply rapidly in moist environments underneath gloves; thus, DHCP should make sure hands are dry before putting on gloves. Hand hygiene should be performed immediately before putting on and after removing gloves. [2]

Q: Can I just use hand sanitizer instead of washing my hands?
A: No. Washing your hands with soap and water is necessary if your hands are visibly soiled. Periodic washing with soap and water is also important to remove dead microbes, perspiration, glove chemicals, and any material that may have leaked through glove tears. [3]

Q: Can I wash and reuse exam gloves?
A: No. Disposable gloves should never be washed or reused. The CDC and OSHA specifically indicate that gloves are single-use and must be discarded after each patient. [3]

Q: Can I use jet air dryers or surface disinfectant wipes on my hands?
A: Jet air dryers are not recommended in dental settings due to the risk of aerosolizing microbes. Surface disinfectant wipes are not a substitute for hand hygiene products and should not be used on hands. [3]

Recommended Hand Hygiene Resources:

• Ask ADS
• CDC's Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care
• CDC's Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
• CE Center - Hand Hygiene Courses
• DICAM Infection Prevention and Safety Resource Toolkit
• Infection Control in Practice (ICIP), Volume 21, Issue 1

Get Involved!

Hand hygiene is just the start! Throughout September, DICAM spotlights additional infection prevention topics to help you maintain the safest dental visit possible. To learn more about DICAM and access additional resources, click here.

References