ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIPTION HABITS AND KNOWLEDGE OF DENTISTS IN A LAHORE SAMPLE

Abstract

This study was conducted to document the antibiotics prescriptions habits of dentists working in two Lahore Dental Colleges and their knowledge regarding use of antibiotics for odontogenic infections and for endocarditis prophylaxis.

This cross sectional, descriptive, quantitative study comprised of a questionnaire administered to 101 house officers and faculty members of two dental colleges.

Amoxicillin was the most frequently chosen (61.4%) first line antibiotic for odontogenic infections and for prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (36%), with Clindamycin as the alternative (60.2%). Majority chose to prescribe post-operative antibiotics for implant placement, surgical exodontia and root canal treatment. Amoxicillin 2g, 1 hour before the procedure, was chosen by 22% as the dose for endocarditis prophylaxis. Endocarditis prophylaxis for root canal treatment and simple exodontia was not selected by the majority but it is recommended.

Antibiotics were unnecessarily prescribed in the cases of pulpitis, sinus tract infections, clinical features like facial swelling and fever, post-operatively for procedures like surgical extractions and implant placements and to be on the safe side. Dentists had inadequate knowledge about existing evidence on antibiotic use in dentistry and endocarditis prophylaxis.