Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to assess knowledge and practice towards infection control measures in particular hand hygiene among dentists in Mansoura Faculty of Dentistry and to investi gate associated factors with better knowledge and practice. Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted on 115 dentists in Mansoura Faculty of dentistry. An anonymous 36 item self-administered English questionnaire was used. It included personal data, wo rkplace hygiene measures, perceived knowledge benefits, hand hygiene practice and complete hepatitis B vaccination. Results: Over a quarter (27%) of the respondents wash their hands before wearing gloves and 72.2% wash their hands when they are visibly soi led. Two thirds (69.6%) washed their hands when the worn gloves bec ame torn. The majority strongly knew that hand washing helps to prevent transmission of infection to patients (94%), health workers (94%) and health workers' family members (99.5%). The main barriers to regular hand hygiene were lack of time and inadequate facilities. Lack of institution monitoring for hand hygiene was (63.5%). Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was (60%). Wearing protective eye wear was more frequently found among mas ter degree dentists than general practitioners (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed good hand washing practices and high knowledge. However, poor monitoring of hand hygiene in teaching institutions and HB vaccination coverage was noticed.