Objectives: To evaluate the compliance with the opportunities of hand hygiene by dentistry
school healthcare professionals, as well as the higher choice products.
Methods: Through direct observation, the oral healthcare team-professors, oral and
maxillofacial surgery residents, graduation students-for daily care were monitored:
before performing the first treatment of the shift, after snacks and meals, and after
going to the bathroom (initial opportunities) as well as between patients’ care, and
after ending the shift (following opportunities).
Results: The professors’ category profited 78.4% of all opportunities while residents
and graduation students did not reach 50.0% of compliance. Statistically significant
data (P≤.05) were seen between categories: professors and residents, professors and
graduation students, and between genders within the residents’ category. When opportunities
were profited, the preferred choice for hand hygiene was water and soap (82.2%), followed
by 70% alcohol (10.2%), and both (7.6%).
Conclusions: Although gloves were worn in all procedures, we concluded that the hygiene
compliance by these professionals was under the expectation. (Eur J Dent 2010;4:233-237)
Keywords
Hand hygiene - Dentistry school - Cross-transmission - Affine transformation - Infection
control
