Sign the pledge – Antibiotic resistance needs tackling immediately across dentistry
FDI World Dental Federation is the global voice of the dental profession, dedicated to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of people worldwide through the improved prevention, treatment, and control of oral diseases.
Antibiotics are the cornerstone of modern medicine. Effective antibiotic drugs are vital to protect people from potentially fatal diseases and reduce risk during complex procedures such as chemotherapy, organ transplantation and other surgery. For patients with a spreading dental infection, effective antibiotics are crucial. Sepsis and the spread of infection toward vital structures may occur rapidly for patients with dental infections, and these conditions can be life-threatening.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is driving the spread of drug-resistant infections. Antibiotic resistance is a significant threat to health and wealth. When you need antibiotics, you need them to work.
Antibiotic resistance is a problem that affects everyone, including you, your family, and friends. Action is needed immediately.
We are living in an era in which sustainable development must be at the forefront and in which the needs of the present should be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and safety. The Word Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. Based on a One Health approach, it recognizes the close connection of human, animal and environmental health.
Dentists are responsible for about 10% of antibiotic prescribing for humans globally. All members of the dental team have a clear responsibility to engage, commit and contribute to global, national and local efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance. National Dental Associations (NDAs) and the wider dental community have the opportunity to contribute to international efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance and enhance patient safety.
FDI Pledge on Antibiotic Resistance
You can pledge to tackle antibiotic resistance through raising awareness, preventing dental infections and optimizing antibiotic prescribing (antibiotic stewardship) through the following actions:
- Make a clear and public commitment to tackling antibiotic resistance
- Communicate to the general public about antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use in dentistry
- Identify learning opportunities for dental professionals and other health professionals on antibiotic resistance, appropriate dental antibiotic use and oral health promotion for infection prevention
- Advocate for dentistry to be included within national action plans on antibiotic resistance.
- Engage in delivering national action plans through dental antibiotic stewardship programmes, including national and local approaches that involve audits of dental antibiotic use
- Participate in the development of evidence-based guidelines on dental antibiotic use
- Encourage the inclusion of antibiotic resistance and stewardship in dental curricula and continuing education programmes
- Advocate timely 'access for all' to oral healthcare to prevent dental infections
- Promote evidence-based guidelines on the prevention and control of infections in dentistry
- Support education and interventions on oral hygiene and low-sugar diet advice to prevent dental infection
Signatory countries
Sign the pledge
Signatories
| I support this pledge to tackle Antibiotic Resistance: Organization |
|---|
| Russian Dental Association |
| IDA |
| Ordre National des chirurgiens dentistes de la RDC |
| Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China |
| PDGI |
| Kazakhstan Stomatological Association |
| Indian Dental Association |
| Indian Dental Association |
| Ghana Health Service |
| Associazione Italiana Odontoiatri/ Italian Dental Association |
Additional resources
Follow the MOOC for dental teams
Join this free course and discover the danger posed by antibiotic resistance, and how dental teams can meet the challenge to protect patients.
The essential role of the dental team in reducing antibiotic resistance
This white paper presents a framework for dental teams seeking to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Library of Resources
Variety of national and international resources that can be adopted or adapted to support national Antibiotic Stewardship Programs. The library features a discussion forum where NDAs, dental teams and others can discuss their work.
Back to the Preventing AMR and Infections project page