Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Post-Dental Procedure Infections Among Outpatients

Background: Post-dental procedure infections are a growing concern in outpatient settings, especially with the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. These infections complicate treatment outcomes and highlight the need for localized surveillance to guide empirical antibiotic therapy. Objective: To assess the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from post-dental procedure infections among outpatients in Pakistan, and to identify trends in multidrug resistance for improving empirical treatment strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over eight months across outpatient dental clinics in Lahore and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A total of 210 adult patients presenting with clinical signs of infection within 7–14 days of dental procedures were enrolled. Pus swabs were collected and analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. Bacterial isolates were identified and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing via the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, and associations were tested using Chi-square and t-tests with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 210 samples, 196 (93.3%) showed positive bacterial growth. Staphylococcus aureus (27.6%) and Enterococcus faecalis (21.9%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens. High resistance was noted against amoxicillin-clavulanate (53.3%) and ceftriaxone (45.7%). Multidrug resistance was present in 58.2% of isolates, most commonly in Klebsiella pneumoniae (65.5%) and Enterococcus faecalis (60.9%). MDR was significantly associated with prior antibiotic use and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: The study reveals a high burden of MDR organisms in outpatient dental infections, emphasizing the need for routine microbiological diagnostics and stricter antibiotic stewardship to guide effective treatment strategies.