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Bacterial infections are common in dental and oral clinical practice. It is been estimated that about 10% of total antibiotic prescriptions are related to dental infections. Combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate and plain amoxycillin is the most commonly used drug by dentists across the world. Three general considerations were recognized in this literature review—Empirical antibiotic prescription by dentists without a culture test; concomitant prescription of antibiotics with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which may ultimately affect the bioavailability of the former drug; and the increased antimicrobial resistance amongst oral pathogens. Since decades, antibiotics have been prescribed for the treatment of odontogenic infections and non-odontogenic oral infections, and for focal infections and sepsis prophylaxis. Renal failure, liver failure, and pregnancy are situations that require special attention when considering an antibiotic prescription. This review attempted to contribute to the rational use and abuse of antibiotics while focusing on the general characteristics of these drugs.

To study serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) serum level in β-thalassemia patients and its relation to carotid intima-media thickness.Thalassemia is a common genetic disease resulting in decreased beta-chains, leading to manifested anemia. It may be subsequently complicated by iron overload, which induces numerous morbidities and even death. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a strong and independent predictor of mortality and disease progression in patients with atherosclerosis alongside with carotid-intimal media thickness (CIMT).This monocentric case-control study was done on 90 subjects in the period from January 2020 to March 2021. Sixty transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDβT) cases (≥18 years) were selected from the thalassemia clinic of Hematology division at Menoufia University hospitals. We included also 30 sex and age matched healthy as the controls. Routine investigations were done beside. Serum GDF-15 was measured by ELISA. CIMT was measured by Doppler Ultrasonography.CIMT on both sides was statistically significant higher in cases (median of 0.08 cm) than in the controls (median of 0.04). GDF-15 was also significantly higher in cases (median of 1839.89 pg/dl) than in controls (median of 256.14 pg/dl). So, we found that GDF-15 is a predictor of and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults (OR = 39.198,GDF- 15 is increased in TDβT. CIMT (as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis) is increased in these patients alongside with GDF-15, is a predictor, and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults.