Sammanfattning
Antibiotic prophylaxis means prescribing antibiotics with the aim of preventing an infection. The patient who receives antibiotic prophylaxis has therefore, by
definition, not an ongoing infection. Within odontology there are basically two circumstances that may require antibiotic prophylaxis: a) when the planned
procedure has an inherent high risk for postoperative infection or b) when the patient has one or more risk factors that significantly increases the risk of infection. This is probably the area within antibiotic utilization in dentistry that has the most extensive knowledge-gaps. Concurrently can an extensive or
erroneous use of antibiotic prophylaxis substantially influence the total amount of prescribed antibiotics within odontology. Both nationally and internationally it is debated what harms the patient most, uncritical use of antibiotic prophylaxis or strict refrain from the same. Regardless of opinion, all antibiotic usage based on routine, tradition and/or consensus must be redefined and discussed in the light of the increasing antibiotic resistance. This also includes antibiotic prophylaxis. l