The use of systemic antibiotics in endodontics: a cross-sectional study

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Miguel
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Paulo, Manuel, Cardoso, Miguel, Martins, Miguel, Noites, Rita
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/33506
• topic: Antibiotic therapy; Antimicrobial resistance; Endodontic infections; Prescription habits; Systemic antibiotics; Terapêutica antibiótica; Resistência antimicrobiana; Infeções endodônticas; Hábitos de prescrição; Antibióticos sistémicos

Objectives: Portugal is one of the European countries with the highest antibiotic consumption rate and, consequently, the highest rates of bacterial resistance. Dentistry's contribution to that problem can be substantial because dentists prescribe approximately 10% of all common antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to characterize the prescription of systemic antibiotics for pulpal and periapical pathology in a sample of Portuguese dentists. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in dentists working in the city of Viseu. A total of 135 questionnaires were distributed among all dental clinics and dental offices of Viseu. Results: The overall response rate was 70% (n = 95). The vast majority of dentists prescribed antibiotics for 8 days (78.9%). The most commonly prescribed antibiotic therapy was the association 875-mg amoxicillin with 125-mg clavulanic acid (82.1%). In cases of sensitivity to penicillin, the most prescribed antibiotics were 500-mg clarithromycin (34.7%) and 500-mg azithromycin (33.7%). A considerable percentage of dentists prescribed antibiotics for situations of irreversible pulpitis, pulp necrosis without systemic involvement, fistula and endodontic retreatment. Conclusions: A considerable part of the inquired dentists prescribed antibiotics inappropriately for endodontic inflammatory conditions such as pulpitis. This kind of behavior could contribute to the world problem of antimicrobial resistance. It is important that dentists understand the importance of restricting the use of antibiotics for cases of severe infection, when they are truly needed.