engleski

The pattern of antibiotic prescribing by dental practitioners in Zagreb, the Republic of Croatia

Bacterial resistance is considered to be a consequence of misuse or overuse of antibiotics. Dentistry significantly contributes to this expanding problem of the public health The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of antibiotics prescription by Croatian dentists in Zagreb area. The first part of a questionnaire comprised data about the doctor of dental medicine (DMD) and the second part was a table which was filled out by the examined doctors over the period of two months about encountered patients and prescribed antibiotics. Two hundred and twenty DMDs in Zagreb area were contacted personally, out of which 110 filled out and returned the questionnaire. Statistical significance was tested by Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, Mann- Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank correlation at the level of statistical significance p<0.05. During the period of two months the doctors prescribed antibiotics for a total 1500 patients, out of which 690 (46%) were men and 810 (54%) were women The most often prescribed antibiotics were penicillins (in 72.5% of patients), represented by mostly amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid which was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic (57.6%). The most common indication for which the antibiotics were prescribed was endodontic or periodontal abscess (44%). Definite clinical indication (71.2%) was stated as the most common reason for antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic therapy usually lasted 7 days (62.9%). The subjects prescribed daily doses of antibiotics according to the instructions for the use of specific drugs. On the basis of this research, it can be concluded that examined subjects prescribe antibiotics according to the recommendations for each type, dose and duration of the treatment, although an inconsistency in diagnoses and reasons for antibiotic prescription was observed.

doctors of dental medicine ; antibiotics ; diagnoses ; doses of antibiotics ; duration of therapy

nije evidentirano