| JADA - Infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship in dentistry |
| Monday, November 03, 2025 09:52 AM |
| In 1736, as fire threatened Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin advised his fellow citizens, “an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure.” This adage captures well the goals of infection prevention and control (IPC) and antibiotic stewardship (AS) programs. In hospital settings, IPC and AS programs show good benefit independently, with evidence indicating substantially greater impact when strategically combined. Recognizing this potential, national infection control organizations have recommended increased collaboration between AS and IPC programs. We propose there would be much to gain by integrating AS and IPC programs in dentistry. Collaborative discussion and planning can better leverage the expertise and knowledge of involved oral health care providers within individual IPC and AS programs and enhance the overall effectiveness of both. The programs thus complement each other and work synergistically to improve patient safety and health outcomes. Read more. |