Comparison and Evaluation of different Antibiotics prescribed to Elderly Patients Post Extraction

Antibiotics are not an alternative to dental intervention, they are an adjunct. Judicious use of antibiotics in conjugation with surgical therapy is the most appropriate method to treat Odontogenic infections. Antibiotic prescribing practices among general dentists and dental specialists among elderly patients remains poorly understood. Aim of the study was to compare and evaluate the various antibiotics prescribed to elderly patients post extraction. The patients records were reviewed and the data of patients who visited between June 2019 to March 2020 were analyzed. 4471 patients above the age of 40 years who underwent extractions were evaluated for the antibiotic prescribed post extraction and were included in the study. Retrospective analysis was done based on the collected data. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS Software, data was analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic post extraction (87.01%) and metronidazole was the second highest prescribed antibiotic post extraction (6.78%). Amoxicillin of dosage (500mg) was the most commonly administered antibiotic in the age group 40-65 years, Pearson Chi Square value- 434a ,p value-0.933 (statistically insignificant). From the present study we were able to conclude that Amoxicillin was the most commonly prescribed primary antibiotic among all the age groups. This was followed by Metronidazole and amoxicillin combinations with clavulanic acid and metronidazole. Age and gender did not influence the choice of antibiotic prescribed post extraction.