Hand

Hygiene

MS. JOYCE CATHERINE B.

UYSECO

Why Is Hand Hygiene

Important?(Purpose of
Hands are the most common
Handwashing)
mode of pathogen transmission

Hand washing is an extremely

important step in overall infection
control
Hand washing significantly removes the
bacterial flora on the skin
Hand washing protects you and your
patient from the bacterial flora (from
each other) from becoming skin
residents

Stop infections
Break chain of infection spreading
Stops growth of germs
Removes bacteria & viruses

Hand Hygiene
Definitions:
Hand washing
Washing hands with plain soap and water

Antiseptic hand wash

Washing hands with water and soap or other
detergents containing an antiseptic agent

Alcohol-based hand rub

Rubbing hands with an alcohol-containing
preparation (used after hand washing)

Surgical antisepsis
Hand washing with antiseptic soap or alcohol-based
handrub before operations by surgical personnel
(Antiseptic preparations for surgical hand hygiene
should have persistent (long-lasting) antimicrobial
activity)

When to Wash:
Visibly

dirty
Before and after eating
Before and after
preparing/cooking of
food
Before and after any
procedure
After going to the
bathroom

 After

touching
contaminated objects
with bare hands
Before and after
patient treatment
(before glove
placement and after
glove removal)
Optional use of
alcohol based hand
rub is acceptable if
hands are not visibly
soiled

Hand washing
before and after
contact with each
patient is the
single most
important
hygiene measure
for reducing or
preventing the
spread of
infection

Rings and Jewelry

Hand jewelry should not be

worn as it may tear gloves and
harbor bacteria

Studies have demonstrated that

skin underneath rings is more
heavily colonized than
comparable areas of skin on
fingers without rings
the

more rings worn, the

greater concentration of
organisms

Fingernails

Can affect the integrity of gloves

Can also harbor bacteria
Keep fingernails SHORT!

Avoid artificial nails

Avoid chipped nail polish

Hand Hygiene: Frequently

Missed Areas

Courtesy of SDS Kerr

Technique

Initial scrub- 30 seconds

Interlace fingers during scrub

Create friction while washing

Hand washing
Initially (when first preparing
for the clinic session)- hands must
be washed with antiseptic hand
wash for a minimum of 30 seconds.
It is extremely important at this time to
focus on technique!

Interlace

fingers
Clean under nails and around cuticles

Hand Hygiene Technique

Routine Dental Procedures

Hand washing

Wet hands with lukewarm water, apply soap,

rub hands together for at least 15 seconds

Rinse and dry with disposable towel

Use towel to turn off faucet

Hand rubs

Apply to palm of one hand, rub hands

together covering all surfaces until dry

Volume:
Based

on manufacturers instructions

Technique (continued)

Be sure not to touch ANYTHING after

washing
Watch, when rinsing, that rinse water does
not touch non clean areas and then
contaminate the clean area
Dry hands thoroughly to prevent drying
and cracking
Applying oil free lotion is optional

Wash hands (or use and alcohol

based rub) before glove
placement and after glove
removal.

Hand
Protection

Gloves
Minimize

the risk of acquiring infections from

patients
Prevent

microbial flora from being transmitted

from dental health care providers to patients

Reduce

contamination of the hands of dental

health providers by microbial flora that can be
transmitted from patient to patient

Are

not a substitute for hand washing!

Latex
Hypersensitivity

Mild to Moderate

Contact Dermatitis Localized Rash

Non

Allergic type Skin Dry & Itchy

Allergic Type IV: Delayed reactionappears over time 12-48 hrs

Moderate to Severe Hypersensitivity

Allergic Type I
Immediate

hypersensitivity may include

runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, burning
skin
Severe reactions effect respiratory system

Irritant Contact Dermatitis:

Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Most common

reaction to latex products. Dry, itchy, irritated
areas on the skin, usually the hands. Not a true

Allergic Contact Dermatitis:

Results from exposure
to chemicals added to
latex during
harvesting,
processing or
manufacturing. Rash
usually begins 24- 48
hours after contact
and may progress to
oozing skin blisters.
Latex allergy can be
acquired over time.

Latex Allergy (Type 1 or

immediate):
The most
serious of the
reactions that
usually begins
within minutes
of exposure to
latex, can occur
hours later with
a variety of
symptoms.

Incidence of latex reaction

Recommendations for Gloving:

Wear

gloves when contact with blood,

saliva, and mucous membranes is possible
Remove gloves immediately that are torn,
cut or punctured

Remove

gloves after patient care

Do not wash, disinfect or sterilize gloves
for reuse

Types of Procedural Gloves

Patient Procedure
Surgical

Housekeeping

Housekeeping
Gloves

Look closely at the gloves

you choose!
Vinyl gloves used to clean
the operatory look very
similar to the latex
gloves.
It is hard to tell the

Types of Patient Procedure

Gloves:
Nitril

Latex

A Balancing Act: Which to

choose?

Glove Fit:
Should be available
in a variety of sizes
and types
May causes hand
fatigue if gloves
dont fit correctly
Glove integrity may
be compromised
Injury is more likely
to occur do to an ill
fitting glove

Example of Gloves that are

too TIGHT

Will cause fatigue as fingers try to flex

Pulls too tightly across the

palm.
Will cause fatigue at thumb
joint.

Example of Gloves that are

too LOOSE

Gloves that are too large pose a danger as

excess
glove material can catch on something
and tear.

Example of Gloves that are

JUST RIGHT!

Taking off the first

glove:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Taking off the second

glove:

2.
1.

5.
4.

6
.

Disposal: