(PO53) The Impact of the American Dental Association Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines on Prescribing Practices within a Dental School Setting

Abstract: The ADA published a report in 2019, providing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the urgent management of pulpal and periapical related dental pain and swelling. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the prescribing practices before and after ADA guidelines for patients who received evaluation or treatment at the Graduate Endodontic Clinic at OHSU School of Dentistry. The congruence to the guidelines and factors associated with lack of congruence were investigated. EHRs were reviewed retrospectively. Data retrieved included antibiotics prescribed, date of prescription, and CDT code. Additional data were extracted regarding patient age, gender, pulpal and periapical diagnosis, pain level, and evidence of systemic involvement. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests of independence. Significance was set at p < .05. A total of 12,467 patients were seen during the study time period. The antibiotic prescribing rate was 1.3% for the total time period, with males prescribed at 44.1% and females at 55.9%. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin (63%) followed by penicillin V. The dose duration ranged from 3 to 7 days. A loading dose was given in 31.9% of the cases. Data analysis of congruence or lack of congruence to the prescribing guidelines, with determination of factors associated with lack of congruence, is ongoing. Few antibiotics were prescribed by providers in the dental academic setting at the GEC, with prescribing rates consistent prior to and after the 2019 published guidelines. The conclusion regarding congruence or lack thereof to the guideline is pending final statistical analysis.