title: Study of antibiotic prescribing among dental practitioners in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
abstract: Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics by health care professionals is a worldwide concern. This study evaluated the knowledge and practices of dental practitioners in the city of Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran regarding their therapeutic use of antibiotics for patients with dentoalveolar infections. Of 219 (48.6%) dentists responding to the questionnaire more than 40% would prescribe antibiotics for localized fluctuant swelling and for problems for which antibiotics are not required according to good practice guidelines (acute pulpitis, chronic apical infection, periodontal abscess, chronic gingivitis, chronic periodontitis, pericoronitis and dry socket). A majority correctly prescribed antibiotics for acute periapical infection (77.2%), cellulitis (75.3%) and acute ulcerated gingivitis (63.0%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic for all clinical conditions but there was a wide variation in dosage, frequency and duration for all antibiotics used. Guidelines on rational antibiotic use are needed for dental practitioners in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vessal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khabiri
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirkhani
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Askarian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D000658:Amoxicillin