CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines for Healthcare Workers – Infection Control

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides valuable online resources and information on proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Educational materials include interactive training for employees, an overview of hand hygiene, CDC guidelines, materials for patients, etc. Additionally, the CDC’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003 recommends hand hygiene guidelines specific for dental staff, which include the following:

• Dental staff should wash their hands with soap and water at the start and end of each workday, in addition to before and after each patient. Hand hygiene is also required after removing and discarding gloves.

• The use of 60-95% alcohol-based handrubs as an alternative to soap and water is permitted, as long as hands are not visibly soiled or contaminated.

• Hands should be thoroughly dried before donning gloves to prevent bacterial growth. Additionally, hands washed with handrubs should be thoroughly dried before gloving because handrub products can interfere with glove integrity.

• Store liquid hand-care products in either disposable closed containers or closed containers that can be washed and dried before refilling. Do not add soap or lotion to (i.e., top off) a partially empty dispenser.

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a registered dental continuing education provider in the state of California, specializing in Dental Practice Act, infection control, and OSHA training.