Knowledge and Practice Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescription by Dentists for Dental Infection in Tehran (2014)

During recent decades antimicrobial resistance has become a worldwide problem to public health. The prescribing pattern of antibiotics by health care professionals is one of the main factors which affecting antimicrobial resistance. Evidences show the inappropriate use of antibiotics by dentists and could result to the antimicrobial resistance

The aim of this study was to determine GDPs’ knowledge and practice of antibiotic prescribing by Dentists in Tehran and find the main cuases of irrational prescription and then try to improve policies and education. A questionnaire was sent to 450 participants and receive 270 acceptable cases. The Data were analyzed using T test, ANOVA, by SPSS version 10.

Based on prescription of antibiotics for clinical sign data, the mean knowledge score was 4.2, the majority of dentists would prescribe antibiotics for acute pulpitis(78.9%), Acute periapical infection (75.2%), cellulitis (70.1%) and acute ulcerative gingivitis (67.4%) and 21%,19.7%,11.8% of respondents always prescribed antibiotics after prolonged root canal therapy, retreatment and after all root canal therapy. 3.8% of respondents answered all the questions of prophylactic antibiotic coverage correctly. The drug of choice for these cases was 2g Amoxicillin (75.2%).

we found the knowledge of General dental practitioner is inadequate about antibiotic therapy and is recommended a reform of their curriculum for further effective education and holding update continuing education programs.