Antibiotic Resistance-An institutional questionnaire study.

Introduction: To determine the pattern of antibiotic prescription and to assess the knowledge of antibiotic resistance among dentists. Material and Methods: An electronic version of the questionnaire regarding antibiotic use and knowledge on antibiotic resistance was created using google forms and a link was mailed to dental surgeons and their response was recorded. Data obtained was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 130 responses recorded 45.4% of dentists prefer prescribing antibiotics daily. Amoxicillin was the most often recommended antibiotic by majority (49.6%) of the practitioners, While 54.6% of dentists considered a duration of 3 days course of antibiotics for odontogenic infections. 43.7% of the respondent's considered clindamycin as an alternative in penicillin-allergic patients. Abscess was the most common (67.2%) condition considered for antibiotic prescription, 49.6% of the participants stated that availability of a particular brand as a primary factor for prescription of antibiotics. 40.3% of dental surgeons felt that failure to prescribe antibiotics was the main reason for the spread of infection. Almost 91.8% of dental surgeons were aware that antibiotic resistance was becoming a global concern. Conclusion: Antibiotics revolutionized the way infections are being treated, Although incorrect and inappropriate use of antibiotics could be a contributing factor for the development of Antibiotic Resistance. Anti-microbial stewardship should be deeply integrated into dental practice and oral health care, to reduce the number of unnecessary prescriptions and educational intervention is utmost essential to limit non-medical prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]