title: The Pattern of Antibiotic Prescribing by Dental Practitioners in Zagreb, Croatia.
abstract: Bacterial resistance is considered a consequence of misuse or overuse of antibiotics. Dentistry significantly contributes to this increasing public health problem. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the pattern of antibiotics prescribed by Croatian dentists in Zagreb area.
  
  
  
  Out of 220 Doctors of Dental Medicine (DMDs) from Zagreb 110 responded to survey. Prior to the research an ethical approval was obtained. Participants were directly contacted. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: general data on DMDs and the part concerning indications, duration, type and dosage of antibiotic therapy. Data were processed using MS Excel and SPSS for Windows, Version 17.0. Statistical significance was tested by Fisher's exact test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation at the level of statistical significance p<0.05.
  
  
  
  During the period of two months, the doctors prescribed antibiotics to 1,500 patients, 690 (46%) were men and 810 (54%) women. The most often prescribed antibiotics were penicillin (72.5% of patients), represented mostly by amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid (57.6%). The most common indication for the prescribed antibiotics was periapical or periodontal abscess (44%). Definite clinical indication (71.2%) was stated as the most common reason for antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic therapy usually lasted 7 days (62.9%). The doctors prescribed daily doses of antibiotics according to the instructions for the use of specific drugs.
  
  
  
  The examined subjects prescribe antibiotics according to the curriculum taught at the School of Dental Medicine for majority of types, doses and duration of the treatments, although antibiotics over-prescription in cases without medical indication was observed. The national guidelines on antibiotic regimens are required in order to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Perić
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Perković
authors: School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Romić
authors: Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Paris
authors: P
authors: Simeon
authors: Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Jurica
authors: J
authors: Matijević
authors: Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Goranka Prpić
authors: GP
authors: Mehičić
authors: Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Silvana Jukić
authors: SJ
authors: Krmek
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017523:Croatia; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: antibiotics; diagnoses; doctors of dental medicine; doses of antibiotics; duration of therapy