Frequency and pattern of utilization of clinical microbiological laboratory services in oral and maxillofacial surgery in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Oral and maxillofacial infections can be fatal if the services of clinical microbiological laboratory (CML) are underutilized. To the best of our knowledge, it appears that the utilization of CML services have not been properly documented in literature. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and pattern of utilization of CML services in oral and maxillofacial surgery patients in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Methodology: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the department of clinical microbiology of University of Benin Teaching Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. Data were obtained from the laboratory register and case notes of patients. Patients with incomplete data were excluded from the study. Data collected include age, gender, type of specimens, microbiological tests and services, Gram stain morphology, microbial culture growth and antimicrobial susceptibility test results. The unit of analysis was patients rather than specimens. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, and p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Of the total 7,345 patients seen during the study period, specimens of 79 patients were sent to CML for analysis, given a laboratory utilization rate of 1.08%. The age range of the 79 patients was 11-101 years with a mean age of 46.1±17.6 years. More than two-third (75.9%) of the patients were younger than 60 years, and just a little more than half (57.0%) were females. Bacteriology services was the most rendered service to the oral and maxillofacial patients. Male and female equally utilize the services. Also, both young and elderly patients equally utilize the services.Conclusion: The rate of utilization of CML services in OMF surgery is relatively low. The most utilized service was bacteriology. Age and gender were not significantly associated with utilization of CML services by oral and maxillofacial patients.