Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Antibiotic Prescription Among Dentists in Saudi Arabia-A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Prescription challenges in antibiotics contribute to the global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are rapidly moving into an age of 'resistome', which has grave consequences. Dentists frequently prescribe antibiotics for intraoral infections and as prophylaxis, particularly for immunocompromised patients, although the clinical justification for these prescriptions remains a point of concern. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia regarding antibiotic prescription. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October to November 2024, involving 252 dentists from various regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered through social media. The dentists were likely to agree to prescribe antibiotics post-procedurally to be safe [OR 0.18, = 0.42, CI -0.94]. Contrastingly, the knowledge of less experienced dentists [OR 9.60, = 0.03, CI 1.21-76.15] was updated regarding prescribing penicillin for women in the third trimester of pregnancy than that of experienced dentists (>10 years). Although the knowledge level of practitioners in the public sector is reasonably good, there are concerns about antibiotic prescription practice among private dental practitioners.