Antibiotic prescribing practices by South Australian general dental practitioners

Abstract

The prescribing habits of a randomly selected approximately 10 per cent sample of South Australian general dental practitioners were obtained by postal questionnaire. Sixty‐eight (61 per cent) usable replies were received and analysed. Generally, there was an appropriate level of knowledge of antibiotic prescription. However, there was a tendency toward over‐prescription and a demonstrated lack of knowledge of the incidence of adverse reactions, development of multiresistant strains and prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis. All of these areas are real challenges to the profession, whether in an overall global community health sense or in a highly individualized clinical or medico‐legal sense. These issues are discussed and the profession is urged to reconsider and re‐educate itself on these challenges.

A questionnaire based study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of rationale use of antibiotics among undergraduate dental students in a tertiary care dental hospital of South India

“…5 Multiple studies carried out across the world showed that antibiotics are not used prudently for various dental infections and it has lead to multiple complications including development of resistance. 6 It is high time to create awareness, find and bridge the gap about different dimensions of antibiotic uses including antimicrobial stewardship and inculcate a practice of rational uses of drugs in general and antibiotics in particulars among budding medical and dental practitioners who will be the torchbearers of tomorrow. 7,8 There are large number of studies to assess the KAP of medical students on antibiotic resistance as well as stewardship but few studies are there to measure the same in dental students.…”

Severe odontogenic infections

“…However, in the last 10 to 15 years there has been a progressive return of serious antibiotic resistance. 3 This has been insidious and there has been a tendency for serious odontogenic infections to be dismissed in hospital practice as simple dental problems. The authors are aware of at least two deaths of patients whilst under treatment for odontogenic infections in major Australian teaching hospitals in the last few years.…”

Antibiotic prophylaxis for dentoalveolar surgery: is it indicated?

“…Only 22 per cent knew the correct incidence of allergy for penicillin with most under estimating the incidence of adverse events. 7 Recently the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for third molars has become controversial with reviews based on clinical studies, 8,9 rather than opinion, 10 challenging the value of antibiotic prophylaxis.…”