Antibiotic resistance is a public health threat, with superbug infections occurring in 2.8 million people in the United States each year. Antibiotic misuse and overuse are the primary reasons for the development of antibiotic resistance and adverse reactions – most notably the life-threatening Clostridioides difficile infection (C. diff). The risk/benefit of prescribing antibiotics must always be considered before prescribing any antibiotic. This course will outline the guidelines for use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and treatment in dentistry and the challenges to responsible prescribing. Participants will be provided with clinical tips, tools and resources for all dental team members to promote antibiotic stewardship in their practices.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
Describe how antibiotic resistance occurs and some of the most important antibiotic resistance issues.
Analyze the impact that unnecessary antibiotic exposure has on patient harm including antibiotic resistance and C. diff. infection.
Examine guidelines for management of odontogenic infections and guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis.
Determine key antibiotic stewardship issues in dentistry and provide approaches and tools that may be implemented by all dental staff.
