Changes in Antibiotic Prescription After Tooth Extraction: A Population-Based Study from 2002 to 2018

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Antibiotic misuse contributes to microbial resistance globally.
• Understanding antibiotic prescription patterns post-tooth extraction is crucial for antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in antibiotic and broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions following tooth extraction in Korea between 2002 and 2018.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 15,838,529 tooth extraction cases from 2002-2018 using Korean National Health Insurance data.
• Stratified sampling by sex and age was employed.
• Annual antibiotic and broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription rates were calculated, along with standardized use based on defined daily doses.

Main Results:

• Antibiotics were prescribed in 84.8% of cases, with 90.7% of those including antibiotics.
• Antibiotic prescription rates initially decreased in 2003 but increased significantly from 2004 to 2018.
• Broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription rates showed no clear trend until the last five years, where they steadily increased. Defined daily doses for antibiotics and broad-spectrum antibiotics also rose consistently.

Conclusions:

• Overall antibiotic use after tooth extraction has increased over the 17-year study period.
• The prescription rate of broad-spectrum antibiotics has notably increased in the recent five years, indicating a potential shift in prescribing practices.