The Importance of Good Hand Hygiene for Dental Care Professionals
Scientific evidence has proven hand hygiene to be the single most effective action to stop the spread of infection. Effective hand hygiene can prevent up to 50% of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery.
Viruses, especially in winter, are respiratory and easily passed through droplets and hand to surface or hand to person contact.
A recent Food Standards Agency survey found that only 40% reported they “always” wash their hands after coughing, sneezing into their hands or blowing their nose.
Findings such as this suggests there are still many situations in which hand hygiene can be improved to help stop the spread of harmful pathogens.
The Solution
Colder winter weather can wreak havoc on hands already stripped of moisture by frequent washing and the application of alcohol gels. This can lead to dry, cracked and sore hands that can harbour bacteria and aggravate skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis.
One of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of infections and protect the hard-working hands of dental care professionals is by using effective hand care products such as those in the Dentisan range.
When considering product spec, look out for handwash designed for healthcare environments that is HTM 01-05 compliant, perfume-free and solvent-free.
Hand cream should contain skin conditioners and emollient for added protection against dryness and chapping - ideally suited for repeated use throughout the working day. For protection after handwashing, a post-wash disinfectant gel such as Dentigel provides additional protection.
Dentigel contains more than 60% alcohol, making it compliant with World Health Organisation guidance for efficacy against COVID-19. It has been microbiologically tested to comply to BS EN 1500 (European hand sanitiser standards). It can also be used on clean skin between washing.
All products in the Dentisan hand care range are designed specifically to clean, sanitise and protect your skin.
Using compliant, high-quality hand hygiene products that meet approved British and European industry standards will help to keep hands clean and safe while offering the best possible protection from infection risk and work-related skin problems.
To find out more about minimising the risk of infection through effective hand hygiene and to gain 0.5 hours of eCPD, read Dentisan’s latest online CPD article.
