Hand hygiene in practice

Effective hand hygiene is essential for reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. For dental staff, stringent hand hygiene measures are critical, as unclean hands may lead to the transmission of microorganisms between patients and staff.

Although most of the adult population in the UK has now received at least one covid vaccination, the virus remains highly transmittable and pathogenic. The virus spreads through close contact with an infected person, by exposure to coughing, sneezing, respiratory droplets or aerosols. These aerosols can penetrate the body by inhalation through the nose or mouth, with incubation times between two and ten days. In closed environments, droplets can remain suspended for several minutes and cover long distances, potentially maintaining their ability to transmit disease.