The Journal of the American Dental Association
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 10, 1328-1337.
© 2008 American Dental Association
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Klevens, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Collins, A. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Klevens, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Collins, A. S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Infection Control

CLINICAL PRACTICE

JADA Continuing Education

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A Primer for Dentists



R. Monina Klevens, DDS, MPH, Rachel J. Gorwitz, MD, MPH and Amy S. Collins, BS, BSN, MPH

Background and Overview. In 2005 in the United States, an estimated 94,370 new, invasive infections and 18,650 deaths were associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); most of these infections were in people with exposures in health care settings. MRSA also has emerged as a community-based pathogen, causing primarily skin infections that are not life-threatening, but occasionally causing more severe and invasive infections. The authors describe the history of MRSA; identify populations at greatest risk of experiencing MRSA colonization and infection; compare characteristics of MRSA infections occurring in health care and community settings; and summarize strategies, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and the literature, to prevent transmission of MRSA in dental offices.

Conclusions and Clinical Implications. Standard infection control precautions should be enforced strictly in all ambulatory care settings, including dental offices, to prevent facility-based transmission of MRSA and other infectious agents.

Key Words: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA; Standard Precautions; Contact Precautions; dental office; infection control

Abbreviations: CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • MDROs: Multidrug-resistant organisms • MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus • NNIS: National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance • PFGE: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis • PFTs: Pulsed-field types • PPE: Personal protective equipment • VRSA: Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright©1995-2008 American Dental Association (ADA).
Reproduction or republication strictly prohibited without prior written permission of ADA.