Antibiotic prescription patterns in primary dental health care in Kosovo

Background. Globally, the level of antibiotic prescription in dental care is increasing each year, and evidence shows a high level of antibiotic misuse.

Objectives. The survey was conducted to determine the antibiotic prescription pattern in primary dental care in Kosovo, to analyze prescription habits, to identify eventual misuses of antibiotics and to facilitate the formulation of standards for the rational prescription

of these drugs.

Material and methods. The data of 1,825 registered patients for a 1-year period was randomly collected and analyzed concerning antibiotic use and presented by Defined Daily Doses [DDD]/1,000 inhabitants/day as per the standards of WHO methodology.

Results. The prescription rate of antibiotics in the general number of registered patients was 7.9%. The total consumption of antibiotic drugs in dental primary care was 2.17 DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day. The total number of individual antibiotics during the survey was 6 agents. The most used antibiotic was Co-amoxiclav (J01CR02) with 1.16 DID, followed by Amoxicillin (J01CA04) 0.78 DID. While other individual antibiotics were used significantly less, with Ceftriaxone (J01DD04), with a 0.11 DID, Cefalexin (J01DB01), with a 0.09 DID,

Procaine Benzyl Penicillin (J01CE09), with a 0.02 DID, and Gentamicin (J01GB03), with a 0.01 DID.

Conclusions. The results of survey indicate a high and irrational prescription of antibiotics in primary dental care in Kosova. The prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics may have a negative impact in destroying commensal flora and triggering bacterial resistance.

The use of broad-spectrum antibiotic, especially parenteral antibiotics, should be replaced with more narrow-spectrum oral antibiotics, and a more restrictive prescription pattern should be put in place. For the qualitative improvement of prescription of these drug

groups, we recommend the implementation of a restrictive antibiotic policy.