Knowledge of dental surgeries on antimicrobials and bacterial resistance

Abstract

Antimicrobials are often prescribed by dental surgeons for therapeutic and prophylactic reasons to treat orofacial infections. The inappropriate and indiscriminate use of these drugs can lead to the selection of resistant microorganisms, generating a public health problem. Because these drugs are used in all areas of dentistry, it is essential that dental surgeons have adequate knowledge of antimicrobials. Objective: this study aimed to verify the level of knowledge of dental surgeons on prescription of antimicrobials. Methodology: a structured questionnaire was applied to 242 dental surgeons who work in the city of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, with demographic and specific questions about antibacterial prescription. The data obtained were tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet and exported to the statistical program StataSE 12 for statistical analysis. Results: among those interviewed, approximately 29% of dental surgeons used as a criterion for choosing an antimicrobial to be bactericidal, and as a method of avoiding bacterial resistance the majority chose to prescribe antimicrobial only when necessary. The primary drug of approximately 54% of respondents was Amoxicillin and, for patients allergic to penicillin, most would use Clindamycin. Conclusions: from the analysis of the responses, it can be concluded that dental surgeons have little knowledge about antimicrobials and what should be done to avoid bacterial resistance, being necessary an improvement in the criteria of the use and prescription of antimicrobials and a continuing education on this subject for professional to decrease the incidence of problems related to the prescription of these drugs.