Inappropriate Dental Antibiotic Prescriptions: Potential Driver of the Antimicrobial Resistance in Albaha Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate dental antibiotic prescriptions in Albaha Region, Saudi Arabia.

Patients and Methods

A two-year retrospective cohort study was conducted between September 1, 2017 and September 1, 2019 in children and adults. Data collected from the patients’ medical records were analyzed using SPSS. The Z-test with Bonferroni correction and descriptive proportions were utilized to compare several levels of categorical variables.

Results

Of the 43,255 dental visits, antibiotics were provided during 12,573 (29.1%). The commonly prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin and amoxicillin combined with metronidazole (56.3% and 16.9%, respectively). Alarmingly, antibiotics were provided in several conditions for which they are medically neither recommended nor indicated; together, they represented 27.8% of those consultations in which antibiotics were prescribed. Female dentists prescribed more antibiotics than male dentists (30%, P = < 0.000), with male patients receiving more antibiotics than female patients (36%, P = <0.0001).

Conclusion

Unnecessary prescription of antibiotics was observed in the present study. Improving knowledge and awareness of Saudi dentists on dental antibiotic prescription is warranted.

Keywords:

• risk management
• health policy
• early diagnosis
• oral disease
• dental service

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Education Training Center and Academic Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Health ‘Albaha branch,’ for their cooperation and helping to facilitate this study.

Data Sharing Statement

The data supporting the findings of the article are available upon request from the main author, Dr Alzahrani, email: [email protected].

Disclosure

The authors report no conflict of and/or competing interest in this work.