title: Superbugs and the dentist: an update.
abstract: This paper presents an overview of three of the most commonly encountered 'superbugs; with a comment on the implications of each for the dental practitioner. The origins of antibiotic resistant micro-organisms lie in the acquisition of resistance genes and selection pressures, with their spread facilitated by inappropriate prescribing and inadequate infection control. Dentists should attempt to rationalize their antibiotic prescribing and ensure that they and other dental staff adhere to standard infection control procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many dental practitioners will treat a wide range of patients in a variety of healthcare settings ranging from general practices to hospital in-patients. It is increasingly likely that they will either knowingly or unknowingly come into contact with people colonized or infected with drug-resistant micro-organisms. This article explains the background to some commonly occurring antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Infection Research Group, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, UK.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*