Enrique Acosta

DDS, PhD

Specialty

Infection Prevention

Education

DDS, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
PhD, University of London, UK
Investigador Nacional, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, México

Accomplishments

International Editor, JADA
OSAP Foundation Board of Directors 1998-2008
Temporary Consultant PAHO 2004
Temporary Consultant WHO 2010

Additional Information

Enrique Acosta-Gio DDS, PhD, is a tenured Professor at the National University of Mexico (UNAM). Since 1985, he has lectured on immunology and microbiology and is head of Infection Control and Occupational Safety at UNAM’s School of Dentistry. He is the principal investigator of grants to improve education, compliance, and monitoring of Infection Control and Patient Safety in dental clinics. At UNAM, he started a Public Health Initiative on Oral Cancer screening and education.


In 2004, he was invited by the US National Institutes for Dental and Craniofacial Research and the World Health Organization’s Oral Health Division to participate in the Eight Global Forum for Health Research. In 2005, he collaborated with the Pan-American Health Organization in drafting a strategy to scale the involvement of oral health providers in the public health response to HIV. He participated in the expert panel convened by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to explore ways to integrate rapid HIV testing into routine dental care. In 2010, he collaborated in the expert world group convened by the WHO to draft the Multi-Profession Curricular Guide on Patient Safety.


He’s a faculty member in HIVdent and he serves as a member of the International Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Since 1992, he has been a member of the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) and served 1998-2008 on the OSAP Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is the recipient of the Dr. James A. Cottone Award for Investigative Research in Dental Infection Control and Safety (2004), and the Dr. James J. Crawford Award for Lifetime Achievement (2010).


Since 1992, he has developed educational programs to train dental faculty, students, and professionals and has lectured on infection control and Patient Safety to over 15,000 dentists, physicians and nurses working for Mexican Public Health Institutions in collaboration with the Mexican Ministry of Health. Since 1993, he has represented UNAM’s Dental School at the committees drafting the Mexican National Standards on Prevention and Control of Oral Diseases; Prevention and Surveillance of Health care Associated Infections; and Sterilization, Disinfection and Antisepsis in Health Care Settings. He has been advisor to Mexico’s “Consejo de Salubridad General” on infection control equipment and supplies for the federal public health services.


He has written review articles and editorials for Spanish-language dental journals. He conducts research on Infection Control and Patient Safety. His research findings have been published in Infection and Immunity, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, British Journal of Dermatology, Oral Surgery Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, Archives of Oral Biology, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, American Journal of Infection Control, Journal of the American Dental Association, International Dental Journal, International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Journal of Dental Education, AIDS Pat Care and STD’s, Journal of Hospital Infection, Frontiers in Immunology, Journal of Patient Safety.


He qualified as a dental surgeon in 1978 at UNAM and received postgraduate training at the Eastman Dental Hospital and Institute of Dental Surgery, Department of Oral Medicine. In 1985, the University of London awarded him a PhD degree in Immunology.