Dental antibiotic prescription in Fijian adults.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and evaluate dentists' knowledge of and prescription patterns of antimicrobial drugs.


METHODS
All 80 registered general dental practitioners in the Republic of The Fiji Islands, excluding academic staff at Fiji School of Medicine. Sixty five (81%) usable replies were received and analysed.


RESULTS
Daily prescription of antibiotics increased with years in practice. There was a moderate level of knowledge regarding specific indications for antibiotic prescription both therapeutically and prophylactically. There was a tendency towards over-prescription with lower dosage, broad spectrum antibiotics with amoxycillin being the overwhelming choice. Some under prescription was noted in certain surgical scenarios. There was a lack of knowledge of the incidence of adverse reactions and very poor medical history record taking. Approximately one third of respondents felt antibacterial resistance is a problem in Fiji and 40% reported experiencing some form of antibiotic resistance in clinical practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall there was a moderate level of correct knowledge for antibiotic prescribing of dentists in Fiji. An improved section on oral and dental infections including guidelines for children should be included in the Fiji Antibiotic Guidelines which could be distributed to all dentists.
Murti
Aachal
A
Fiji School of Medicine, Suva, fiji Islands.
Morse
Zac
Z
D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002648:Child; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin