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Introduction. The role of healthcare workers’ hands in the transmission of infectious diseases to patients is acknowledged. Indeed, they can pick potentially pathogenic bacteria and
fungi from hand-touch surfaces before wearing gloves; these microorganisms multiply rapidly in the moist environment underneath gloves and multiplication rate increases along with
the duration of glove use. This route of infection transmission through healthcare workers’ hands is the foundation of the recommendation for hand hygiene, which is compulsory despite
the use of disposable gloves. The use of finger rings is responsible for glove donning with consequent hand contamination, and imperfect hand hygiene.
Aim. To investigate the occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi on hands underneath the gloves of dental hygienists (DHs) with and without finger rings.
Material and methods. Forty DHs (17 with rings -RDH, 23 without rings –NRDH), were considered. Skin samples from the dominant hand soon after professional toothcleaning and
glove removal were collected. Prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi were investigated with cultural and biochemical laboratory methods.
Results. Bacteria and fungi were significantly more frequent in RDHs than in NRDHs: 65% vs. 30% (bacteria), 82% vs. 17% (fungi). Potentially pathogenic microorganisms isolated were
Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus. All these microorganisms, excluding S. aureus, were more frequent in RDHs.
Conclusion. In the present sample potentially pathogenic microorganisms were more frequent in DH who wore rings.
Key words: dentistry, dental hygienist, hand hygiene, gloves, infection transmission, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, candida
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