Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination

The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Volume 34, Number 1/2009 13 INTRODUCTION Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen found in the human mucosa and skin. This microorganism is considerably instable, has wide dissemination and can be transmitted through the air or person to person, causing cross-contamination. In addition to skin infections, S. aureus can cause septicemia, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, an abscess or other diseases. There is a strong relation between the presence of S. aureus and the occurrence of serious infections, such as infective endocarditis. Antibiotic resistant S. aureus strains are considered a public health problem, especially in large hospitals. Loureiro, et al. (2000) observed a high frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from the anterior nares of newborns and health care workers of two units in a hospital. Dental practitioners treat a wide rage of patients, so it is likely that they will come into contact with people colonized or infected with drug-resistant microorganisms. High resistance rates against antibiotics used for prophylaxis in dentistry have been detected for pathogens associated with bacterial endocarditis, such as S. aureus. Certain aspects of dental practice may contribute to the transmission of microorganisms. The skin, environment and instruments can be contaminated with saliva, blood or organic debris during routine dental treatment. Several Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination in a Pediatric Dental Clinic