Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in healthcare services worldwide, including dental care, resulting in increased reliance on antibiotics as a substitute for in-person dental interventions. Aim: This study aimed to examine the prescription of different classes of antibiotics at the University Dental Clinical Center of Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare it with prescription trends from the pre-pandemic period. Methodology: This study analyzed antibiotic prescription patterns at the University Dental Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCDCK) from 2019 to 2022, focusing on dental patients. Data were collected using a standardized form and a review of electronic health records. Descriptive statistics were used to examine trends, which were compared to data from other countries facing similar healthcare disruptions. The data is organized into quartiles, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the distribution and trends in antibiotic usage over the four-year period. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics, including amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, clindamycin, and metronidazole, during the pandemic period. Data collected from the university dentistry center showed that the highest frequency of antibiotic prescriptions occurred in 2021 (27.6%), while the lowest was in 2022 (22.8%). Metronidazole (39.4%) and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (38.5%) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, together accounting for the majority of prescriptions. Amoxicillin alone represented 18.2%, with other antibiotics prescribed at significantly lower rates. These findings highlight the reliance on these antibiotics for dental treatments and underscore the importance of monitoring prescription trends to optimize usage and minimize resistance risks. Conclusions: The study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental antibiotic prescription practices in Kosovo, revealing a concerning increase in broad-spectrum antibiotic use. This underscores the need for improved antibiotic stewardship in dental settings, particularly during public health crises, to prevent the exacerbation of antimicrobial resistance. Ensuring continued access to routine dental care and developing robust protocols for antibiotic prescription during emergencies are essential to mitigate the long-term public health impacts of increased antibiotic use.