The Pattern in the Utilization of the First-Choice Antibiotic among Dentists in the Republic of Kosovo: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Objective Antibiotics are prescribed by dentists during dental treatments, depending on the diagnosis and severity of the disease. Appropriate indicators of the benefit of systematic and regular use of antibiotics in dentistry are limited, because a large number of dental and periodontal problems can be treated either by surgical intervention or by maintaining good oral hygiene. Improper use of antibiotics leads to antimicrobial resistance. In Kosovo, this problem is very evident and more studies are required to identify antibiotic prescribing patterns by health care workers. In this context, this study aims to investigate the issue of antibiotic use in dentistry. Materials and Methods This prospective study was conducted for 6 months and followed the dental practice of 80 dentists. Data were collected from 795 patient forms. Results After analysis, results showed that amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and amoxicillin alone were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, each accounting for 35%. The most common indications for antibiotic prescription were dental and periodontal abscesses (24.9%), while 20.7% of antibiotics were prescribed for postextraction healing, pericoronitis (15%), chronic periodontitis (12.8%), and dry socket (11.5%). Conclusion These results suggest that the problem of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is not only overprescribing but also the selection of inappropriate agents, especially amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, instead of amoxicillin alone.