School of Oral Health Sciences (ETDs)

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Browsing School of Oral Health Sciences (ETDs) by Author "Premviyasa, Vinayagie"

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    Antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists in the Durban metro region, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Rampersad, Yuvti; Premviyasa, Vinayagie
    Antibiotic resistance is a rising global phenomenon which challenges the delivery and efficacy of both simple and complex medical treatments. While the development of resistance is a natural progression for organisms, evidence suggests that there is a correlation between misuse and overuse of antibiotics and the subsequent development of resistant organisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists in the Durban-metro region. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of the antibiotic prescribing patterns among dentists in the Durban metro region, South Africa in 2022.The inclusion criteria adopted in this study were qualified dentists in the Durban metro region who are currently registered with the HPCSA. A sample size of 183 participants was calculated. The survey was sent to dentists on a closed-dental groups of 210 participants. Ninety-one responses to the survey were received. The survey was distributed on Microsoft forms and responses were recorded and captured in excel and exported to Stata for analysis. Results Amoxicillin was the most prescribed antibiotic (48%) while the most common antibiotic prescribed for patients who are allergic to penicillin was Clindamycin (58%). Seventy one out of ninety-one dentists prescribed antibiotics for a 5-day course (78%). The most common reason for prescribing antibiotics was facial swelling 89% (81/91 dentists). More than half of dentists did not report any adverse effects after prescribing an antibiotic to a patient (57%). Seventy-three out of ninety-one dentists believed that dentists are contributing to antibiotic resistance (80%). Of the 80% that believe that dentists are contributing to antibiotic resistance, sixty-five out of ninety-one (71%) stated the most common reason for dentists contributing to antibiotic resistance to be unclear guidelines on antibiotic prescribing. Conclusion Most dentists in the study had a fairly good knowledge on how to prescribe antibiotics. However, a significant number of dentists (62%) incorrectly prescribed antibiotics for irreversible pulpitis. There was an overall good attitude towards antibiotic resistance with more than half of the dentists being aware that dentists are contributing to antibiotic resistance (80%)