| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics by general dental practitioners. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire of National Health Service general dental practitioners in ten English Health Authorities. SUBJECTS: General dental practitioners (1,544) contracted to provide NHS treatment in the Health Authorities of Liverpool, Wirral, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Sheffield, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaires were analysed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies. RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire were received from 929 (60.1%) practitioners. More than 95% of practitioners recognised the need for prescribing antibiotics where there was evidence of spreading infection. Some practitioners (12.5%) prescribed antibiotics for acute pulpitis and (3.3%) for chronic marginal gingivitis. Antibiotics were prescribed by practitioners before drainage of acute abscesses (69%) and by 23% after drainage. Practitioners were generally not influenced by patient's expectations of receiving antibiotics (92%), but would prescribe when under pressure of time (30.3%), if they were unable to make a definitive diagnosis (47.3%), or if treatment had to be delayed (72.5%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic used for most clinical conditions apart from pericoronitis, acute ulcerative gingivitis and dry sockets where metronidazole was the drug of choice. There was a wide variety of dosage, frequency and duration for all the antibiotics used in the treatment of acute dental infections. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this questionnaire support the conclusion that the therapeutic prescribing of antibiotics in general dental practice varies widely and is suboptimal. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in National Health Service general dental practice. |
| Authors | N A Palmer, R Pealing, R S Ireland, M V Martin
(Affiliation: Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of Liverpool.)
|
| Journal | British dental journal
(Br Dent J)
Vol. 188
Issue 10
Pg. 554-8
(May 27 2000)
ISSN: 0007-0610 ENGLAND |
| PMID | 10870281
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Anti-Infective Agents
- Penicillins
- Amoxicillin
- Metronidazole
|
| Topics |
- Abscess
(surgery)
- Acute Disease
- Amoxicillin
(therapeutic use)
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Anti-Infective Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Bacterial Infections
(drug therapy)
- Chronic Disease
- Dentist-Patient Relations
- Drainage
- Drug Utilization
(statistics & numerical data)
- Dry Socket
(drug therapy)
- England
(epidemiology)
- Female
- General Practice, Dental
(statistics & numerical data)
- Gingivitis
(drug therapy)
- Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Male
- Metronidazole
(therapeutic use)
- Penicillins
(therapeutic use)
- Pericoronitis
(drug therapy)
- Prescriptions, Drug
(statistics & numerical data)
- Pulpitis
(drug therapy)
- Questionnaires
- State Medicine
(statistics & numerical data)
|
