ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION TRENDS AMONG DENTISTS WITH RESPECT TO DESIGNATION FOR LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS UNDERGOING DENTAL TREATMENT

Background: Patients with liver disease are often immunocompromised and prone to opportunistic infections, making antibiotic prophylaxis an important aspect of dental care. The altered drug metabolism and increased risk of bleeding in such patients necessitate careful prescription practices. However, the antibiotic prescribing trends among dentists may vary based on their clinical experience and professional designation. Understanding these trends is essential for aligning practices with international guidelines and ensuring safe patient outcomes. Objective: To assess the association between the designation of dentists and their antibiotic prescription trends for liver disease patients undergoing dental treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, from January 2024 to January 2025. A total of 100 dentists (50 general dental practitioners and 50 house officers) were recruited using convenience sampling. Dentists with less than six months of clinical experience were excluded. Only those who had worked in the Oral Surgery and Endodontics departments were included, regardless of age or gender. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.914), and analyzed using SPSS version 23. The chi-square test was applied to evaluate associations, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: A non-significant association was found between dentist designation and antibiotic prescription for liver disease patients undergoing dental extraction (p = 0.513). Among house officers, 34% prescribed antibiotics compared to 26% of general dentists. For root canal treatment, 24% of house officers and 20% of general dentists prescribed antibiotics, again with a non-significant association (p = 0.810). Conclusion: Although the associations were not statistically significant, notable variations in prescription practices existed between house officers and general dentists. These findings highlight the importance of standardized antibiotic prescribing education across all levels of dental training.