Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (Apr 2013)
Antibiotic Prescription Practice of Dental Practitioners in a Public Sector Institute of Karachi
Abstract
There are very few conditions in dentistry in which systemic antibiotics are indicated, as majority of dental diseases are managed by oral hygiene measures and local interventions. In contrast to it, inadequate antibiotic prescription practice of dentists is evident in literature. The objective of the study was to assess the antibiotic prescription practice of dentists employed in a public sector teaching institute of Karachi. It was a cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A cohort of dentists working in a public sector dental institute of Karachi was included in the study. A self-administered semi-structured validated questionnaire was utilized for assessing the antibioticprescription practice. The data was entered and analyzed using statistical package for social science [SPSS]version 16.0. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 110 dentists and 89 filled questionnaires were received back from the respondents, thus giving a response rate of 81%. Amoxicillin was the antibiotic of choice among 43.3%, Amoxicillin Clavulinate in 34% and Metronidazole in 11.3% of surveyed dentists for the treatment of acute dental infections in patients without any known allergy; whereas Erythromycin (22.5%), Cephalaxin (23.6%)and Clindamycin (30.30%) was preferred for patients allergic to penicillin. Majority of respondents prescribeantibiotics for cellulitis (85.39%), pericronitis (75.20%), acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (70.70%),periodontal abscess (65.10%), acute pulpitis (53.90%), chronic periodontitis (41.50%), chronic marginal gingivitis(24.70%) and dry socket (17.90%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that majority of respondents prescribe antibiotics routinely, even for conditions where local management would be enough and highlighted that there is a need of developing guidelines by regulatory bodies based on available literature to regulate appropriate use of antibiotics.
