Prescribing Antibiotics for pediatric dental patients in Jordan; knowledge and attitudes of dentists

Objective: The inappropriate use of antibiotic in treating children has been observedin the treatment of dental infections. Recent surveys reported that dentistsin several countries have modest knowledge about antibiotic prescribing. The aimof this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude of a group of Jordaniandentists treating children towards antibiotic prescribing.Methods: A written questionnaire was distributed during a meeting of the JordanianSociety of Paediatric Dentistry. The questionnaire included questions aboutthe knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward dental antibiotic prescribing tochildren.Results: Amoxicillin was the most popular antibiotic (62.9%) to be prescribed bydentists treating children. A lesser percentage (29.7%) prescribe combination ofantibiotics, and around 37% prescribe antibiotics for duration longer than 5 days.Erythromycin was the most popular alternative to amoxicillin (77.8%) followed byclindamycin (22.2%). A number of antibiotics were prescribed for non-indicatedclinical conditions like pulpitis and gingivitis. More than 50% of the sample prescribedantibiotics for non-scientific reasons like the “need to delay treatment†and“sterilization not guaranteedâ€.Conclusion: There is a need to improve awareness of Jordanian dentists regardingantibiotic prescribing to children particularly in the aspects of type of antibiotic tobe used for patients allergic and non-allergic to penicillin, duration of prescribing,and clinical indications. Dentists also should be discouraged to prescribe antibioticsbased on non-scientific/social factors