• Ayed A Shati.
• Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
• Niger J Clin Pract. 2022 Feb 1; 25 (2): 123-129.

BackgroundInfective endocarditis (IE) is a disease endangering human lives. Therefore, several prophylactic measures are required to improve the protection of endocarditis-prone patients from bacteremia resulting from various dental actions. These measures range from developing the dental hygiene to trials of different antimicrobial agents.ObjectivesTo examine the knowledge and practices of dentists in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, regarding antibiotic prophylaxis against IE.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAseer Region, Saudi Arabia.Patients And MethodsThe participants were interviewed at their workplaces and the data collection sheet was constructed based on the guidelines of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC, 2017).Main Outcome MeasuresThe examination of the data gathered was calculated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25) such as to test the significance of variation in dentists' mean knowledge scores as per their personal characteristics. An output with P values <0.05 was statistically significant.Sample Size182 Dentists.ResultsDentists' mean knowledge score was 17.5 ± 3.7 (out of 24). The least correct responses regarding dental procedures that require prophylactic antibiotics were "root canal treatment" (30.8%). Regarding cardiac conditions that require prophylactic antibiotics, dentists' least correct responses were "heart failure" (50%). Dentists' mean knowledge scores differed significantly according to their age groups (P = 0.032), nationality (P = 0.002), education/qualification (P = 0.002). Mean knowledge scores differed significantly according to dentists' years of experience (P = 0.018) and sources of information (P < 0.001). Amoxicillin was the most regularly recommended antibiotic (90.7%), while 86.8% correctly stated 30--60 min. before the procedure as the time for prophylactic antibiotic administration.ConclusionsThe knowledge of dentists in Aseer Region regarding the use of preventive drugs for the control and prevention of IE is suboptimal. The inclusion of the latest AHA guidelines into the dentistry curricula is highly recommended.LimitationsOutcome are simultaneously assessed.

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