Hand Hygiene: Infection Control/Exposure Control Issues for Oral Healthcare Workers
Géza T.
Terézhalmy, DDS, MA;
Michaell A.
Huber, DDS
The transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens most often occurs via the contaminated hands of healthcare workers (HCWs). Accordingly, hand hygiene is one of the most important infection control measures for preventing healthcare-associated infections. However, compliance by HCWs, including oral healthcare workers (OHCWs), with recommended hand hygiene practices remains low. The widespread availability of waterless, alcohol-based hand antiseptics is making this task easier. Alcohol-based hand hygiene products rapidly reduce bacterial counts on hands (with the exception of Clostridium difficile) and rapidly kill many fungi and viruses. Alcohol-based hand hygiene takes much less time than traditional hand washing and is gentler on the hands than the repeated use of soap and water. Oral healthcare facilities are accountable for establishing a system in which OHCWs have the knowledge, competence, time, and tools to practice hand hygiene; and OHCWs have the duty to perform hand hygiene - perfectly and every time.