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Antimicrobial resistance with focus on oral beta‐lactamases
Author(s) -
Handal Trude,
Olsen Ingar
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0722.2000.108003163.x
Subject(s) - antibiotics , antibiotic resistance , antimicrobial , cephalosporin , medicine , intensive care medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Over the last 10–15 yr antibiotic resistance has increased in the oral microflora. The beta‐lactam antibiotics, i.e., penicillins and cephalosporins, are the most frequently used antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately, the efficiency of these drugs is increasingly being challenged by the emergence of resistant bacteria, which is mainly due to their production of beta‐lactamases. In this paper, mechanisms of antibiotic resistance are reviewed, with emphasis on beta‐lactamases. This review also discusses how the presence of beta‐lactamases in oral microorganisms may affect the treatment of oral diseases. Dentists can influence the emerging global crisis of antibiotic resistance by carefully evaluating the indications for antibiotic treatment. General guidelines for when and how to use antibiotics in dentistry are reviewed.