DTUK1610

June 14-20, 2010United Kingdom Edition CAD/CAM SYSTEMS | INSTRUMENTS | HYGIENE SYSTEMS | TREATMENT CENTRES | IMAGING SYSTEMS T h e D e n t a l C o m p a n y Telephone: 0845 0715040 e-mail: info@sironadental.co.uk www.sironadental.co.uk Sirona Dental Systems Ltd., 7 Devonhurst Place, Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick, London W4 4JD ORTHOPHOS XG Tomorrow’s digital technology today Enjoy every day. With Sirona. XG family 390x90 ad 29/1/10 14:15 Page 1 T he most important tool a dental practitioner pos- sesses is his hands. Ul- timately, all the technology and equipment in the world are use- less if the hands operating it are not in prime condition. As well as acting as a tool, your hands can also be a le- thal weapon, especially when it comes to infection transmis- sion in a surgical environment. The skin on the hands is the body’s first defence against in- fection from pathogens, as any cuts or lesions on the skin are easy sources of entry for bacte- ria and viruses, so good hygiene practises are crucial to reducing the risk of infection. Thorough- ly washing hands, along with the use of gloves and alcohol rubs are the primary means employed by dental practition- ers to maintain effective hand hygiene and prevent the spread of infection, however this can have a detrimental effect on the condition of the skin on the hands and arms. A fine balance Skin protection is an occupation- al hazard for dental practition- ers and as special care must be taken to protect others from in- fection, so professionals are not leaving themselves open to long- term suffering and discomfort. A delicate balance is required to ensure that hands not only re- main hygienic, but also that the dental professional does not suf- fer any ill effects. Eczema is the highest ranked occupational skin disease and the reported cases of it in the medical profession are on the increase. Symptoms include itchy, rough skin, which is prone to flaking and cracking and al- though the disease is not infec- tious, it is unpleasant and un- comfortable for the sufferer. Additionally, many people suffer from allergies associated with perfumes, colours and ma- terials such as latex – all of which can play a large part in the im- plementation of many practice’s infection-control procedures. Very often, the hand creams and soaps used in dental prac- tices include the value range from the local supermarket and because of this they are likely to contain colours and fra- grances that can cause reac- tions in people who suffer from allergies. On occasion the reac- tive ingredients are not identifia- ble on the label, being described simply as ‘perfume’, so sufferers can find themselves using prod- ucts that are going to cause an allergic reaction without even knowing it. Allergic reactions to colour are also a common prob- lem, and severe cases can have horrific effects. Not only attack- ing the skin on the hands and the arms, but also sometimes caus- ing the onset of asthma and even anaphylactic shock, which can prove fatal. Latex allergy Allergic reactions to natural rub- ber latex (NRL), the material used in the manufacture of med- ical gloves, have increased sig- nificantly over the last 10 years particularly within healthcare occupations. The proteins natu- rally present in NRL cause irrita- tion either through direct contact with the skin or by inhalation of powder from powdered latex gloves. The reaction manifests itself in a red itchy scaly rash, which may spread to other areas. Needless to say, it is of the ut- most importance that suffering is kept to a minimum and that steps are taken to ensure that the dental professional’s health is not compromised. Wearing gloves to keep skin free of any pathogens is a ne- cessity in the dental industry, however, for a practitioner suf- fering from a latex allergy, this can further exacerbate the problem. Many suppliers now also produce latex-free surgi- cal gloves, which can be worn without discomfort while still upholding rigourous infection control policies. Skin cleansing The use of alcohol hand rubs has proven very effective in re- ducing the spread of potentially lethal bacteria such as MRSA on the hands of medical staff , how- ever regular usage can severely compromise the condition of the skin, as can excessive exposure to skin-cleansing products. It is important to take restorative ac- tion to help minimise dryness and irritation, as weaker skin is more prone to skin complaints and cracking. In order to main- tain healthy skin on hands and arms, regular use of a water- based moisturising cream or lo- tion is essential. It is important to remember, however, that staff responsible for sterilisation should not use hand creams while handling equipment, and that instruments can become contaminated dur- ing handling and thus compro- mise the sterilisation procedure. The maintenance of an effec- tive infection control procedure is of the utmost importance with- in a dental practice to maintain the health and wellbeing of both practice staff and patients. DT Health and hygiene go hand in hand, according to Richard Musgrave of Schülke, who offers advice on preventing the spread of infection Helping busy hands keep healthy About the author Richard Musgrave has been in the industry for 18 years, and brought his knowledge and experience to Schülke five years ago. Initially working to de- velop both the range of infection con- trol products as well as the acclaimed infection control training division, Ri- chard is now responsible for the UK marketing team. He attributes the success of Schülke to the quality of its product and its dedication to providing the best pos- sible support to the dental profession, both in the UK and beyond. This com- mitment is demonstrated through Schülke’s association with leading companies such as Dental Protection, for example. More information on in- fection control training is available from Schülke on 0114 254 3500 or at www.s4dental.com. The skin on the hands is the body’s first defence against infection from pathogens