Faculties publish antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for all dentists
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- Published: Monday, 14 December 2020 16:43
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The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS) have published the third edition of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry – Good Practice Guidelines. Its scope has been extended to include management of oral and dental infections by all prescribers.
Developed by an intercollegiate working group led by Dr Nick Palmer FDSRCS(Eng) FFGDP(UK), it updates FGDP’s well-known Antimicrobial Prescribing for General Dental Practitioners guidance to reflect changes in the evidence base since the previous edition, and covers a much wider range of conditions.
Its scope has been extended to include management of oral and dental infections by all prescribers, not only general dental practitioners but those working in secondary dental care (including trainees), specialists (including oral and maxillofacial surgeons), and those involved in dental education and research. Its recommendations are also now appropriate for all dental patients, including adults, children, the elderly and those with special needs treated in the primary and secondary care setting.
Inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials can exacerbate the problem of antimicrobial resistance, which leads to antibiotics no longer being effective in treating even simple infections. There are serious consequences for everyone, but particularly those undergoing major surgery, chemotherapy, organ or stem cell transplants. Every year, 25,000 people across Europe, and 700,000 worldwide, die from antibiotic-resistant infections, and the UK government predicts the annual global toll could be 10 million by 2050.
Prudent prescribing of antimicrobials can slow down the further development of antimicrobial resistance, and all healthcare prescribers play a vital role. Dentists prescribe an estimated 10% of all oral antimicrobials prescribed in England, and are required by legislation to ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials.
Published following consultation with a range of specialist societies and national dental organisations, Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry – Good Practice Guidelines offers clear guidance on when to prescribe antimicrobials, what to prescribe, for how long and at what dosage.
It is available free of charge in PDF format at https://www.fgdp.org.uk/guidance-standards and https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/publications-guidelines/clinical-guidelines, and print copies can be purchased at https://www.fgdp.org.uk/shop
To mark the publication of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry, the FGDP(UK) is distributing print copies to all its members in January, and new members who join before 31 January 2021 will be sent a copy with their welcome pack. Non-members can buy print copies at www.fgdp.org.uk/shop, and until 31 March 2021 FGDP is offering a 30% discount when buying its complete set of print guidance publications, which also includes Standards in Dentistry, Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping, Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography, Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment and Dementia-Friendly Dentistry.
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