Pattern of Antibiotic Prescription for Orofacial Infections among Dentists: A Narrative Review of Literature
Suhael Ahmed
*
Department of oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nada Mohamed Abdelfattah Aly Elkholy
College of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Amna Alghamdi
Alfarabi College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Sarah Aedh Alshehri
College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Khalid M Alanazi
College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Omar K. Alanazi
College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Shaya Farhan Aldossary
College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nafeesa Tabassum
College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Al Saffan
Riyadh Elm university, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Noha Abdullah Alenezi
Alfarabi College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Bacterial infections are common in dental and oral clinical practice. It is been estimated that about 10% of total antibiotic prescriptions are related to dental infections. Combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate and plain amoxycillin is the most commonly used drug by dentists across the world. Three general considerations were recognized in this literature review—Empirical antibiotic prescription by dentists without a culture test; concomitant prescription of antibiotics with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which may ultimately affect the bioavailability of the former drug; and the increased antimicrobial resistance amongst oral pathogens. Since decades, antibiotics have been prescribed for the treatment of odontogenic infections and non-odontogenic oral infections, and for focal infections and sepsis prophylaxis. Renal failure, liver failure, and pregnancy are situations that require special attention when considering an antibiotic prescription. This review attempted to contribute to the rational use and abuse of antibiotics while focusing on the general characteristics of these drugs.
Keywords: Antibiotic, prescribing pattern, Odontogenic infections, treatment, prophylaxis