Antibiotic Prescription Patterns by Dentists in Themba Hospital, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Literature has provided evidence of variable prescribing patterns by dentists due to a number of factors ranging from inadequate knowledge, costs, and/or social factors. Overprescribing has resulted in an increased resistance to antibiotics among organisms in the oral cavity.

Objectives: To determine the duration and frequency of antibiotic prescription patterns among dentists in oral health facilities in Nelspruit and surrounding clinics.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting dentists in Themba Hospital and surrounding oral health facilities. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed that requested information on prescribing patterns.
All data was collected and captured using a Microsoft Office Excel (2007) spread sheet. SPSS was used to analyse qualitative data.

Results: Of the 42 respondents, (response rate was 100%), 60% had working experience of between 3-9 years. Only 20% respondents prescribed antibiotics for medical conditions that required prophylaxis, immunocompromised patients and patients who present with trismus. Nearly 50% of the respondents always prescribed after scaling and polishing procedure was done. 30% prescribed to patients who presented with infections such as dental abscess, while 10% of respondents prescribed for patients who come for restorations.

Only 10% of respondents always prescribed based on patient expectations, while only 20% of respondents always prescribed antibiotics when uncertain about diagnosis.


Conclusions: This study provided evidence conclusion that there was over-prescribing of antibiotics by dentists for routine procedures such as scaling and polishing and restorations.