Implementation of Antibiotic Guidelines in a Dental Teaching Hospital in Sudan

Dental professionals routinely use root canal treatment (RCT) worldwide to treat pulpal and periapical infections. Antibiotics are overprescribed for RCT patients with little regard to the prescription guidelines, as documented in many recent studies; this results in irreversible effects on public health. This study measures dental students' knowledge at the University of Gezira (UoG) for the most current American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines and assessing their relative compliance with these guidelines. Material and Method: This a cross-sectional study conducted among fourth and fifth-year students (142) at the Faculty of Dentistry at the UoG, using a multi-sectional questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of sections that evaluate the students' knowledge of the 2019 ADA guidelines, implement these guidelines, and students' opinions regarding bacterial resistance and the curriculum of the dental schools in Sudan. Results: 41.6% of the students' responses regarding the 2019 ADA guidelines were wrong, 30% of all the prescribed antibiotics for RCTs in Wad Madani dental teaching hospital were not in line with the recent guidelines. 81% reported a lack of knowledge about antibiotics prescription guidelines among dentists and dental students in Sudan, and 87% said there is a need to refine the curriculum of dental schools in Sudan. Conclusion: There was a lack of familiarity among dental students about the 2019 ADA guidelines and the incomplete implementation of these guidelines in RCTs; there is a need to refine dental education, clinical systems, and legislation to minimise unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions.