title: Antibiotics in odontogenic infection.
abstract: Antibiotics work by exploiting differences between human and bacterial cells. They are grouped according to their targets of action: cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, and nucleic acid replication. Generally they should be used as an adjunct to local measures that aim to remove the source of infection and drain pus, usually when infection has spread to adjacent tissue spaces. They should not be used prophylactically after surgical extractions unless significant pre-existing infection is diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Dublin Dental Hospital, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Leo F A
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Stassen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D013754:Tetracyclines; D004917:Erythromycin