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Antibiotic Stewardship Principles — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModeratePharmacologyAntibiotic Stewardship PrinciplesNDEB AFK

Which of the following statements about the use of antibiotics in dentistry is most consistent with current antibiotic stewardship guidelines?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Antibiotics are indicated as definitive treatment for localised dentoalveolar abscess without systemic involvement — source control (drainage, RCT, extraction) is the primary treatment

Explanation lettering: E = shown as B · B = shown as E

Current antibiotic stewardship guidelines emphasise that antibiotics are NOT a substitute for source control in dental infections. For localised dentoalveolar abscess without systemic involvement (no fever, no lymphadenopathy, no trismus, no fascial space involvement), definitive treatment is drainage (I&D, pulpotomy, extraction) — antibiotics are NOT needed if adequate source control is achieved. Antibiotics are indicated only when systemic involvement is present, the patient is immunocompromised, or the infection is spreading beyond the local area.

Reference: CDA – Antibiotic Prescribing for Dental Practitioners, 2019; Lockhart PB et al – JADA, 2019