Enhancing infection control for elderly and medically compromised patients.
Some patients may be at risk for complications from relatively common infectious diseases. Influenza, tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection can lead to illness and even death in elderly, medically compromised and institutionalized individuals. Dental personnel caring for these individuals should adopt preventive strategies that are simple and inexpensive in addition to standard infection control guidelines.
Shuman
S K
SK
Department of Preventive Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis 55455-0348.
McCusker
M L
ML
Owen
M K
MK
D000368:Aged; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000517:prevention & control