Should you be sending oral microbiological samples to the laboratory?

Abstract

Objective To identify barriers on the use of diagnostic microbiology facilities in general dental practice. Design A cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire. Setting Primary/secondary care interface between the diagnostic oral microbiology laboratory, University of Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, Glasgow and dental practitioners within the surrounding health boards, 1998. Subjects All GDPs (797) within Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow Health Boards. Main outcome measures The responses were expressed as both absolute and relative frequencies. Results Responses were received from 430 (55%). The most frequent reason for failure to use the service was lack of information, with more than half of the respondents claiming to be unaware of the facility. Lack of request forms and sampling equipment were also viewed as barriers to using the service. Conclusions The laboratory is failing to successfully communicate its role in addressing the growing burden of antibiotic resistance in the community and must be more proactive in encouraging appropriate use and increasing accessibility of the service to GDPs.