Antimicrobial Prescribing & Resistance in Dental Practice

Significant changes to conventionally taught prescribing has required colleagues to take a serious look at their old prescribing habits and patterns. The worldwide concern over antimicrobial resistance is gathering pace and  the attached Aide Memoire attempts to give authoritative and up-to-date guidance on Antimicrobial Prescribing & Resistance in dental practice. Dental prescribers need to understand their role in antimicrobial stewardship and to help develop an approach to antimicrobial stewardship within their clinical practice.

Currently the GDC is closely reviewing practitioners prescribing habits and will consider this as a “Fitness to Practice” issue if inappropriate prescriptions are being written. This is also a matter that the CQC is actively reviewing in its practice visits.

This link summarises the latest guidance on prescribing: (May19 – Antibiotic prescribing guidance link here)

This link presents a useful audit sheet that practices can use to review their prescribing profile and demonstrate appropriate compliance (Antibiotic data collection form link here)