title: Antibiotics prescription in Nigerian dental healthcare services.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inappropriate antibiotics prescription in dental healthcare delivery that may result in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is a worldwide concern. The objective of the study was to determine the antibiotics knowledge and prescription patterns among dentists in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 160 questionnaires were distributed to dentists attending continuing education courses organized by two organizations in Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 146 questionnaires were returned, properly filled, out of 160 questionnaires, giving an overall response rate 91.3%. The clinical factors predominantly influenced the choice of therapeutic antibiotics among the respondents. In this study, the most commonly prescribed antibiotics among the respondents was a combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole. Of the respondents, 136 (93.2%) of them considered antibiotic resistance as a major problem in Nigeria and 102 (69.9%) have experienced antibiotics resistance in dental practice. The major reported conditions for prophylactic antibiotics among the respondents were diabetic mellitus, HIV/AIDS, history of rheumatic fever, other heart anomalies presenting with heart murmur and presence of prosthetic hip. The knowledge of adverse effects of antibiotics was greatest for tooth discoloration which is related to tetracycline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study revealed the most commonly prescribed antibiotics as a combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole. There existed gaps in prophylactic antibiotic prescription, consideration in the choice of therapeutic antibiotics and knowledge of adverse effects of antibiotics among the studied dentists.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Azodo
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ojehanon
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003729:Dental Care; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009549:Nigeria; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000009:adverse effects; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D013752:Tetracycline