Errors in Antibiotic Therapy: Study with Dentist's Prescriptions in a Large Brazilian City

Objective: To evaluate errors in dental prescriptions of antibiotics for therapeutic purpose. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive study using a random and calculated sample of 366 prescriptions (July1 2011 to June 30 2012), from a total of 31 105 dental prescriptions, was surveyed in an important drugstore chain in a large Brazilian city. Data was validated by double entry in Epi-data (EpiData Assoc, Odense M, Denmark) and then analysed in SPSS (version 19.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Statistical analyses included the calculation of proportions with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: We identified 272 prescriptions for therapeutic purpose. Prescription errors involved spelling of the antibiotic name, dose, dosing intervals and duration of treatment. A total of 116 prescriptions (42.6%; 95% CI 36.9%-48.6%) were considered to be totally correct with regard to the generic name, dose, dosing interval and duration of the antibiotic therapy. Most of the antibiotics prescribed by dentists showed errors related to the name, dose, intervals and duration of treatment. Conclusion: These errors may compromise the effectiveness of drug therapy, contribute to microbial resistance and increase the risk of adverse events and costs of treatment.

Oral Health Status among Girls with Developmental Disabilities: A Cluster Analysis

Objective: To investigate the factors that influence oral health of girls, with developmental disabilities, attended by a dental service. Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out using information collected from 171 dental charts of children aged one to 13 years, with developmental disabilities who were treated between 1998 and 2013. Studied variables were: dental caries, gingivitis, bruxism, xerostomia, ingestion of cariogenic food and oral hygiene. Statistical analysis was performed using proportion calculations of each variable and by cluster analysis. Results: Three types of clusters were formed from girls based on three variables (presence of dental caries, gingivitis and bruxism). The choice of two clusters was due to a better understanding of the phenomenon (oral conditions). There was an average of 0.77 of deciduous and 0.21 permanent decayed teeth. Cluster 1 is composed of younger children with lower caries and gingivitis experiences; lower proportion of xerostomia and ingestion of cariogenic food, higher proportion of good oral hygiene and more bruxism experience. Conclusions: Dental caries and gingivitis among girls with developmental disabilities are influenced by factors whose relation of cause and effect has been discussed in the literature. Bruxism is a protective factor against these diseases.Results reinforce the need for early preventive interventions in this population.

Factors Associated with Gingivitis in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Objective: To investigate factors associated with gingivitis in children aged one to 13 years with developmental disabilities. Material and Methods: A total of 408 dental records were used to recover the data. Gingivitis was measured based on the Modified Gingival Index. Other variables were also analysed: gender, age, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code, mouth breathing, history of gastroesophageal reflux, use of psychotropic drugs, reports of dry mouth, history of asthma, use of medications to treat asthma, oral hygiene, dental caries, and filled or missing teeth in deciduous or permanent dentition. For the purposes of this analysis, the individuals were categorized as with and without gingivitis. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were incorporated into the logistic regression models (ICD, reflux, oral hygiene, primary tooth decay or filling, mouth breathing, dry mouth and use of psychotropic drugs). Results: We found a 14.67% prevalence of gingivitis. Individuals with mouth breathing had a 2.574-fold (95% CI: (1.113-5.950) greater chance of exhibiting gingivitis. Individuals with moderate oral hygiene had a 2.763-fold (95% CI: 1.066 to 7.160) greater chance of exhibiting gingivitis, and individuals with poor oral hygiene had a 15.029-fold (95% CI: 3.705-60.965) greater chance of exhibiting gingivitis than those with good oral hygiene. Conclusion: Moderate or poor oral hygiene and mouth breathing are factors associated with gingivitis in a group of patients with developmental disabilities at a dental service in Belo Horizonte.

A importância do ensino danotificação de doenças / The importance of teaching disease notification

Notificação é a comunicação da ocorrência dedeterminada doença ou agravo à saúde, feita à autoridadesanitária por profissionais de saúde ouqualquer cidadão, desencadeando o processo deinformação-decisão-ação. A Notificação é o principalmecanismo através do qual o Ministério da Saúderecebe os dados epidemiológicos necessáriospara a adoção de medidas de intervenção cabíveis.No Brasil, são de notificação compulsória os casosde doenças que podem implicar em medidas deisolamento ou quarentenas, e aquelas que constamde uma lista elaborada pelo Ministério da Saúde,adaptada para cada Unidade da Federação e atualizadaperiodicamente. Apesar da importância e daobrigatoriedade, a notificação tem sido precária,sendo a subnotificação um problema para o sistemade saúde. Existe pouca literatura sobre o assunto,resumindo-se a publicações oficiais como leis, portariasetc. Faz-se necessária uma maior divulgaçãodo assunto em revistas de grande circulação, entreos profissionais de saúde e os futuros profissionais,e até para a população em geral, que é parte importanteda informação sobre ocorrência de doenças.Este artigo tem como objetivo divulgar as doençasde notificação compulsória aos profissionaisde saúde, e refletir sobre a importância da conscientizaçãodo futuro profissional de Odontologiasobre seu papel na manutenção do Sistema de VigilânciaEpidemiológica.