Prophylactic Antibiotic Prescribing Practices Among Oral Surgeons in Ohio

Prophylactic Antibiotic Prescribing Practices Among Oral Surgeons in Ohio

Isabel Atencio DDS. Nathaniel Kronenwetter BS. Keith Schneider DDS, MS. Catherine Demko PhD. Daniel Schwartz DMD, MD.  Dale Baur MD, DDS. Faisal A. Quereshy, MD, DDS, FACS.

 

To investigate how oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Ohio prescribe prophylactic antibiotics for specific procedures (third molar extractions and implant placement) and specific groups of patients (prosthetic hip/knee and prosthetic TMJ recipients) and report how closely those practices align with the current body of related literature.

A total of 212 practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the state of Ohio were mailed a standard questionnaire in 2013 surveying their use of prophylactic antibiotics in regards to use or disuse, timing of administration, and length of course. Of the 212 surgeons surveyed, 155 (73%) responded. Surgeons were questioned about prescribing practices after third molar surgery and implant placement.

Regarding third molar extractions, 45.8% of surgeons surveyed routinely prescribe antibiotics for their patients undergoing extraction of erupted third molars. 52.9% of surgeons routinely prescribe antibiotics for patients undergoing extraction of soft tissue impacted third molars. 72.9% of surgeons routinely prescribe antibiotics for patients undergoing extraction of full/partial bony impacted third molars. As for implant placement, 91.4% of oral surgeons prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis to patients.

Regarding patients with prosthetic joints, 86.6% of surgeons surveyed routinely premedicate patients with existing hip/knee prostheses. 4.7% do premedicate, but only when advised to do so by the orthopedic surgeon. 61.4% of oral surgeons surveyed routinely prescribe antibiotics to their patients with prosthetic TMJs. There was significant variation among those surveyed in the use of antibiotics, the timing of administration, and the length of the course for all procedures and patient groups.

In spite of the recommendations of literature and numerous guidelines, there is a lack of consensus and uniformity among oral and maxillofacial surgeons regarding the use of prophylactic antibiotics. It is our hope that the results of this survey, coupled with the latest body of scientific literature, will prompt surgeons to critically examine their current antibiotic prescribing practices.

 

 

 

References:

 

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