Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription by Dentists for Oral Diseases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i1.239Keywords:
Antibiotic Prescription, Dentistry, Antibiotic Resistance, Oro-facial Infections, Dental Practice, Antimicrobial StewardshipAbstract
Background: The use of antibiotics in dentistry is a crucial aspect of managing oro-facial infections, often originating from odontogenic sources. However, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance highlights the need for a careful examination of prescription practices among dental professionals.
Objective: This study aims to analyze the patterns of antibiotic prescriptions among dental practitioners, with a focus on adherence to current guidelines and awareness of antibiotic resistance.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Institute of Dentistry, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, and Dental Out Patient Department in Hyderabad. The study employed a non-probability convenience sampling method, encompassing consultants, postgraduates, and general dental practitioners, while excluding undergraduate dentists and those involved in malpractice. A preformed and validated questionnaire was used to collect data. The sample size was calculated based on the prevalence of antibiotic prescription among dentists, leading to a required sample size of 379. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, focusing on frequencies for categorical variables and employing the Chi-square test for associations, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 deemed significant.
Results: The majority of dentists (60.42%) reported always obtaining a patient's medicinal history before prescribing antibiotics, with 62% adhering to the 2-3 day prescription guideline. However, 17% prescribed antibiotics for more than three days. Approximately 70.44% of dentists were aware of antibiotic resistance. In terms of antibiotic choice, Amoxicillin was most frequently prescribed (26.91%), followed by Penicillin (21.62%) and Amoxicillin with Clavulanic Acid (21.37%).
Conclusion: The study reveals a significant adherence to recommended antibiotic prescription practices among dental practitioners, with a notable level of awareness regarding antibiotic resistance. However, the persistence of overprescription and extended courses by some practitioners underscores the need for enhanced education and stricter adherence to guidelines. The findings emphasize the importance of balanced antibiotic use in dentistry to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Downloads
References
El-Kholey KE, Wali O, Elkomy A, Almozayen A. Pattern of antibiotic prescription for oral implant treatment among dentists in Saudi Arabia. Implant dentistry. 2018 Jun 1;27(3):317-23.
Parekh AN, Balasubramanian K, Bhate P, Kalra DD. Antibiotics usage, how well we know it? KAP survey among the dentist population in Mumbai. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 2020 Nov;9(11):1713.
Ahsan S, Hydrie MZ, Hyder Naqvi SM, Shaikh MA, Shah MZ, Jafry SI. Antibiotic prescription patterns for treating dental infections in children among general and pediatric dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan. Plos one. 2020 Jul 10;15(7):e0235671.
Vardhan TH, Lakhshmi NV, Haritha B. Exploring the pattern of antibiotic prescription by dentists: A questionnaire-based study. Journal of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences. 2017 Jul 1;6(3):149.
Angarita‐Díaz MD, Bernal‐Cepeda L, Rodriguez‐Paz M, Vergara‐Mercado M, Herrera‐Herrera A, Forero‐Escobar D, Mora‐Reina J, Ochoa‐Acosta EM, Maya‐Giraldo M, Caceres‐Matta S, Tamayo J. Prescribing antibiotics by dentists in Colombia: Toward a conscientious prescription. Journal of Public Health Dentistry. 2021 Jun;81(2):100-12.
Sarmiento MA, Maglutac Jr MT, Yanga-Mabunga MS. Antibiotic prescribing practices of Filipino dentists. International Journal of Public Health Science. 2019;8(3):332-40.
Singh Gill A, Morrissey H, Rahman A. A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating antibiotic prophylaxis in dental implants and extraction procedures. Medicina. 2018 Dec;54(6):95.
Deniz‐Sungur D, Aksel H, Karaismailoglu E, Sayin TC. The prescribing of antibiotics for endodontic infections by dentists in Turkey: A comprehensive survey. International Endodontic Journal. 2020 Dec;53(12):1715-27.
Mende A, Venskutonis T, Mackeviciute M. Trends in systemic antibiotic therapy of endodontic infections: a survey among dental practitioners in Lithuania. Journal of oral & maxillofacial research. 2020 Jan;11(1).
Aragoneses JM, Aragoneses J, Brugal VA, Algar J, Suarez A. Antimicrobial prescription habits of dentists performing dental implant treatments in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Antibiotics. 2020 Jul;9(7):376.
Sakeena MH, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. Investigating knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Australian universities. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research. 2021 Feb;51(1):54-61.
Gross AE, Hanna D, Rowan SA, Bleasdale SC, Suda KJ. Successful implementation of an antibiotic stewardship program in an academic dental practice. InOpen forum infectious diseases 2019 Mar (Vol. 6, No. 3, p. ofz067). US: Oxford University Press.
AboAlSamh A, Alhussain A, Alanazi N, Alahmari R, Shaheen N, Adlan A. Dental students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic prescribing guidelines in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy. 2018 Jun;6(2):42.
Puranik MP, Sabbarwal B, Bose S. Dental practitioner's knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic prescription and development of resistance: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry. 2018 Apr 1;16(2):144.
Baskaradoss JK, Alrumaih A, Alshebel A, Alfaqih A, Aleesa M, Alkhashan S, Altuwaijri M. Pattern of antibiotic prescription among dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Journal of investigative and clinical dentistry. 2018 Aug;9(3):e12339.
Zakri NI, Alshehri NM, Shebli AN. Antibiotic practicing habits, knowledge and attitude toward education about antibiotics among dentists in Jazan City. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2018 Jul 1;72(3):4207-17.
Ramadan AM, Rikaby OA, Abu-Hammad OA, Dar-Odeh NS. Knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic prescribing among dentists in Sudan. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada. 2019 Sep 2;19.
Baş MK, Betul Basturk F, SAZAK ÖVECOGLU H. Awareness of Antibiotics and Analgesics Use In Marmara University Hospital. International Journal of Scientific Research in Dental and Medical Sciences. 2019 Dec 1;1(4):57-61.
Memon I, Alrashid AA, Alshammari HS, Rehman DE, Feroz Z, Nagro A, Alotaibi R, Alsalmi M, Khan MA, Alkushi A, Zaidi SF. Assessing the Effects of Basic Medical Science Courses on the Knowledge and Attitude towards Antibiotic Usage among Pre-Professional Students in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy. 2021 Jun;9(2):108.
Paudel G, Shah AK, Palikhey A, Khanal N, Karki S, Chaurasia L, Chaulagain R. Knowledge, attitude and practice of prescribing antibiotics among dental practitioners in Chitwan. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021 Apr 24;3(1):66-72.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Rehmatullah Kandhro, Javaid Unar, Qamerunnisa Memon, Zafar Iqbal, Nourain Atif , Safiullah Daheri

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Public Licensing Terms
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Under this license:
- You are free to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, including commercial use.
- Attribution must be given to the original author(s) and source in a manner that is reasonable and does not imply endorsement.
- No additional restrictions may be applied that conflict with the terms of this license.
For more details, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.