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J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 10, 1328-1337.
© 2008 American Dental Association
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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






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