Social campaign launched to promote hand hygiene among dentists

Oral health professionals are being asked to take part in a new social media campaign to promote good hand hygiene.

Spearheaded by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) (FGDP(UK)) and the Association of Clinical Oral Microbiologists (ACOM), the Thunderclap campaign is being organised to coincide with International Hand Hygiene Day on May 5th.

Healthcare-acquired infections strike more than four million patients a year in Europe, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, resulting in 5.5 billion pounds in healthcare and direct financial losses.

As such, this Thunderclap campaign will involve the posting of hand hygiene messages to dentists' social media accounts, while the World Health Organization is distributing a printable poster for dental surgeries called Your 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene.

Dr Mick Horton, dean of FGDP(UK), and ACOM chair Dr Melanie Wilson said: "Dental patients are in your hands, so always check what's on your hands. Don't spread infections, but do spread the word – sign up to our Thunderclap today, then share the link with your colleagues."