Information for dentists
How serious is this?
AMR is a rapidly progressing global public health problem. It currently accounts for around 700,000 deaths each year worldwide. Modelling estimates this figure will rise to 10 million deaths by 2050, overtaking even cancer.
What do I need to know?
COVID-19 and dentistry
COVID-19 has exacerbated the threat of AMR. Recent studies suggest that, despite an overall reduction in the number of appointments during the pandemic, there was a higher number of antibiotic prescriptions given per appointment in primary care settings. This suggests antibiotics are being increasingly used to manage patients.
Dental antibiotic prescribing during the pandemic was 20% higher in 2020 compared to the previous year. Antibiotic prescribing increased, within the Midlands, and was one of the five highest regions within the UK across the pandemic .
National Action Plan
The government has implemented a 5-year action plan, as part of a 20-year vision to tackle AMR on three levels:
- Reducing the need/unintentional exposure of antimicrobials
- Optimising the use of antimicrobials
- Investing innovation, supply, and access
(HM Government, 2019)
Dental prescriptions account for 7.4% of all antimicrobial prescriptions. Targets have been set to reduce antimicrobial use in humans by 15% (FGDP. FDS, 2016). Dentists have a significant role to play in tackling antimicrobial resistance.
Global Action Plan: World Health Organisation
- Improve awareness and understanding of AMR through communication, education, and training
- Strengthen knowledge and evidence base
- Reduce infection rates through effective sanitation, hygiene, and infection prevention measures
- Optimise antimicrobial use in animals and humans
- Sustainable investments considering country needs and increasing investments in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other interventions
(WHO, 2016)
How does Dentistry fit in within the wider AMR agenda?
Dental prescribing accounts for 7.4% of all antimicrobial prescriptions. A recent survey of antimicrobial prescribing, amongst dentists in ten English local authorities, revealed suboptimal prescribing including for inappropriate clinical situations and under time pressures.
We need to ensure that we are prescribing antimicrobials safely and effectively. We all have a part to play in tackling AMR.
How can we tackle AMR?
Antimicrobial stewardship!
Dental antimicrobial stewardship forms a significant component in the fight against AMR, by ensuring safe and effective use of antimicrobials. It represents key actions, from an organisational and a local level, which promote AMR and recommendations for appropriate antimicrobial usage.
Antimicrobial stewardship is “an organisational or healthcare-system-wide approach to promoting and monitoring judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness”.