New Partnership to Address Dentistry’s Antibiotic Stewardship Problem
A 5-year CDC-ADA initiative will tackle antibiotic overprescribing in dentistry while developing evidence-based guidance to strengthen patient safety.
Despite warnings regarding the overprescription of antibiotics, dentists remain responsible for approximately 10% of all antibiotic scripts in the United States.1 Research suggests that 80% to 90% of these prescriptions are unnecessary.2 So how to get through to dentists about the risks?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association (ADA) are partnering to address this issue. Through a 5-year grant from the CDC, the ADA will create an evidence-based prescription guideline and additional resources for dental practices to improve their antibiotic stewardship.
The grant will also fund the development of safety guidance for human tissue allografts. Used widely in implant therapy, bone augmentation, socket preservation, ride augmentation, sinus lifts, and periodontal surgery, human tissue allografts undergo significant testing to ensure safety. However, the risk of viral infections, bacterial and fungal infections, and prion diseases remains. In addition to the safety guidance, the ADA will develop standards for clinical documentation and informed consent. Click here to read more.
References
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic Stewardship Strategies: Outpatient Dental Settings.
- Teoh L, Thompson W, Suda K. Antimicrobial stewardship in dental practice. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020;151:589-595.
