title: Dental students' knowledge regarding the indications for antibiotics in the management of endodontic infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge of undergraduate Spanish dental students regarding the indications of systemic antibiotics in the management of endodontic infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The final year dental students from four Spanish dental schools were requested to answer a one-page questionnaire on the indications for systemic antibiotics in the treatment of endodontic infections. One hundred and seventy-five students were asked to participate in this research. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and four students (93.7%) completed satisfactorily the survey and were included in the study. The average duration of antibiotic therapy was 7.0 ± 2.0 days. All respondents chose amoxicillin as the first-choice antibiotic in patients with no medical allergies, alone (47%) or associated with clavulanic acid (53%). The first drug of choice for patients with an allergy to penicillin was clindamycin 300 mg (99%). For cases of irreversible pulpitis, up to 63% of students would prescribe antibiotics. For the scenario of a necrotic pulp, symptomatic apical periodontitis and no swelling, 44% would prescribe antibiotics. Almost 40% of students would prescribe antibiotics for necrotic pulps with asymptomatic apical periodontitis and a sinus tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary for the Spanish schools of dentistry to improve students' knowledge about antibiotics and their indications in endodontics. Interactive education analysing real endodontic cases using problem-based learning would help students acquire better skills in prescribing antibiotics in pulp-periapical pathosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martín-Biedma
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alonso-Ezpeleta
authors.affiliation: Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velasco-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: J J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0427-9059
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Segura-Egea
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013030:Spain; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: antibiotics; dental curriculum; endodontic infections; undergraduate student