Healthy Hands for Dental Professionals
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CLINICAL Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA, CSP Speaker, Consultant, Trainer Leslie Canham & Associates Selection of Hand Hygiene Products The proper selection of hand hygiene products can help reduce the colonized bacteria that are present on There are a variety of preparations used for hand hands. The preferred method for hand hygiene hygiene from plain soap to waterless antiseptic agents. depends on the type of procedure, the degree of Healthy Hands for Dental Professionals In the United States, antiseptic hand wash products contamination, and the desired persistence of intended for use by healthcare workers are regulated antimicrobial action on the skin. For routine dental by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) division of examinations and nonsurgical procedures, hand As dental professionals, hand hygiene is an important Over the Counter Drug Products. Below are some washing and hand antisepsis is achieved by using either concern. Does your skin ever get dry, cracked or The amount of time spent washing hands is critical in examples of preparations used for hand hygiene. plain or antimicrobial soap and water. If the hands irritated? Are you using gloves that fit well, are reducing transmission of pathogens to other people are not visibly soiled, hand antisepsis can be also be comfortable to wear, and provide adequate coverage and environmental surfaces. According to the Centers • Plain Soap achieved by using an alcohol-based hand rub. for your hands? Do you strive to prevent hand for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, • Alcohols Frequent hand washing with soap and water can be contamination and subsequent cross-contamination? 15 seconds is the minimum amount of time to spend • Chlorhexidine irritating to skin. The 2002 CDC Guidelines for Hand Do your co-workers share the same commitment to washing hands. Drying hands thoroughly is also • Chloroxylenol hand hygiene or do they inadvertently have lapses? important. Wet hands have been known to transfer Hygiene in Health-Care Settings cite that the use of • Hexachlorophene This article will provide information on best practices pathogens much more readily than dry hands or hands alcohol-based hand rubs containing various emollients for protecting your hands at work and tips to help you not washed at all. The residual moisture determines the • Iodine and Iodophors were better tolerated by healthcare workers than promote a culture of healthy hand hygiene among level of bacterial and viral transfer following hand • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds washing hands with non antimicrobial soaps or co-workers. washing.2 Hands should be completely dry prior to • Triclosan antimicrobial soaps. Soap and water as well as alcohol donning gloves so as to prevent promotion of bacterial dissolves natural skin oils. When using an alcohol based Evidence supports the premise that improved hand growth and because moisture trapped under gloves can hygiene can reduce health care associated infection cause irritation to skin. rates. Failure to perform appropriate hand hygiene INFECTION is considered one of the leading causes of health care When I conduct workshops on hand hygiene, I use a PREVENTION associated infections and has been recognized as a product called “Glo-Germ”. Glo-Germ is lotion that LATHER. RINSE. RELIEF. substantial contributor to outbreaks. However, frequent when applied to hands, glows under an ultra-violet light. and repeated use of hand-hygiene products, My workshop participants apply the Glo-Germ to their AFTER Hu-Friedy particularly soaps and other detergents, are a hands, rub around to coat all surfaces and thoroughly HAND ESSENTIALS™ primary cause of chronic irritant contact dermatitis wash their hands. After washing, the ultra-violet light among healthcare workers.1 Discomfort due to reveals areas that were missed. Frequently missed irritation can interfere with adherence to recommended areas include under fingernails, cuticles, in between The company who has invested in the hand hygiene practices. fingers, backs of hands and around the wrists. You can performance of your hands for over 100 years, use this product in your office to help promote effective AFTER WHITE brings you a full line of hand care products to hand washing. help with program compliance. Our moisturizers, Is Your Hand Washing Protocol Effective? soaps and sanitizers will be there for you with AFTER Another way to ensure enough time is dedicated to every glove change, disinfecting hand wash and Effective hand washing is accomplished by wetting hand-washing is by using the second hand on your day-ending skin routine. Non-irritating, cost- hands and applying an antimicrobial or plain soap. The watch. First, time co-workers on how long they spend effective and latex glove compatible, Hu-Friedy next step includes vigorously rubbing hands together washing their hands. Then use the same routine to Hand Essentials is the perfect choice to care for to create a lather covering all the surfaces of the palms, apply Glo-Germ to the freshly washed and dried hands. your two most precious instruments. tops of the hands, between the fingers, base of the Instruct everyone to wash the product off, but allow fingers and thumbs, backs of the fingers, wrists and only the amount of time “clocked” with the first round WHITE SANITIZERS MOISTURIZERS SOAPS finger nails. The hands should then be rinsed of washing. This dramatic visual helps remind dental Sterillium® Comfort Gel™ Skin Repair Cream Antibacterial Soap thoroughly to remove all the lather. Washing and professionals to spend extra time and attention to Instant Hand Antiseptic Moisturizing Lotion Lotion Soap rinsing should be performed with cool water as hot hand washing. Hand hygiene should be performed water can be drying to skin. Remember not to touch before donning gloves and immediately after gloves are the faucet with freshly washed hands, instead use a removed. Visit us at Hu-Friedy.com paper towel to turn the water off, so hands are not ©2015 Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Hu-Friedy and the Hu-Friedy oval logo are registered trademarks of re-contaminated. Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC. Sterillium Comfort Gel is a registered trademark of Bode Chemie GmbH Co. PG 8 The Dental Assistant March/April 2015 March/April The Dental Assistant PG 9 WHITE CLINICAL Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA, CSP Speaker, Consultant, Trainer Leslie Canham & Associates Selection of Hand Hygiene Products The proper selection of hand hygiene products can help reduce the colonized bacteria that are present on There are a variety of preparations used for hand hands. The preferred method for hand hygiene hygiene from plain soap to waterless antiseptic agents. depends on the type of procedure, the degree of Healthy Hands for Dental Professionals In the United States, antiseptic hand wash products contamination, and the desired persistence of intended for use by healthcare workers are regulated antimicrobial action on the skin. For routine dental by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) division of examinations and nonsurgical procedures, hand As dental professionals, hand hygiene is an important Over the Counter Drug Products. Below are some washing and hand antisepsis is achieved by using either concern. Does your skin ever get dry, cracked or The amount of time spent washing hands is critical in examples of preparations used for hand hygiene. plain or antimicrobial soap and water. If the hands irritated? Are you using gloves that fit well, are reducing transmission of pathogens to other people are not visibly soiled, hand antisepsis can be also be comfortable to wear, and provide adequate coverage and environmental surfaces. According to the Centers • Plain Soap achieved by using an alcohol-based hand rub. for your hands? Do you strive to prevent hand for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, • Alcohols Frequent hand washing with soap and water can be contamination and subsequent cross-contamination? 15 seconds is the minimum amount of time to spend • Chlorhexidine irritating to skin. The 2002 CDC Guidelines for Hand Do your co-workers share the same commitment to washing hands. Drying hands thoroughly is also • Chloroxylenol hand hygiene or do they inadvertently have lapses? important. Wet hands have been known to transfer Hygiene in Health-Care Settings cite that the use of • Hexachlorophene This article will provide information on best practices pathogens much more readily than dry hands or hands alcohol-based hand rubs containing various emollients for protecting your hands at work and tips to help you not washed at all. The residual moisture determines the • Iodine and Iodophors were better tolerated by healthcare workers than promote a culture of healthy hand hygiene among level of bacterial and viral transfer following hand • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds washing hands with non antimicrobial soaps or co-workers. washing.2 Hands should be completely dry prior to • Triclosan antimicrobial soaps. Soap and water as well as alcohol donning gloves so as to prevent promotion of bacterial dissolves natural skin oils. When using an alcohol based Evidence supports the premise that improved hand growth and because moisture trapped under gloves can hygiene can reduce health care associated infection cause irritation to skin. rates. Failure to perform appropriate hand hygiene INFECTION is considered one of the leading causes of health care When I conduct workshops on hand hygiene, I use a PREVENTION associated infections and has been recognized as a product called “Glo-Germ”. Glo-Germ is lotion that LATHER. RINSE. RELIEF. substantial contributor to outbreaks. However, frequent when applied to hands, glows under an ultra-violet light. and repeated use of hand-hygiene products, My workshop participants apply the Glo-Germ to their AFTER Hu-Friedy particularly soaps and other detergents, are a hands, rub around to coat all surfaces and thoroughly HAND ESSENTIALS™ primary cause of chronic irritant contact dermatitis wash their hands. After washing, the ultra-violet light among healthcare workers.1 Discomfort due to reveals areas that were missed.