ArticleCureus2022
Efficacy of Oral Care Protocols in the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.
Article in Cureus, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association Between Daily Toothbrushing and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JAMA internal medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of probiotic colonization on oral hygiene and ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICU patients: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Trial
- Comparison of the effect of licorice and chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral health of intubated patients in the intensive care unit.BMC oral health · 2024Trial
- A Narrative Review of Oral Hygiene and Pulmonary Health Amid Dysphagia: Implications for Feeding Route, Nutrition, and Quality of Life.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Oropharyngeal Interventions in Intubated Patients for Preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Multi-Variate Network Meta-Analysis Evaluating Pharmacological Agents.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Comparison of Long-Term Oral Bacterial Flora Before and After Orthognathic Surgery in Surgical Orthodontic Treatment.Dentistry journal · 2025Article
- The Influence of Oral Health on Comprehensive Health Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients.Cureus · 2025Article
- Oral frailty and its influencing factors among ICU patients with oral endotracheal intubation: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Evaluation of brushing efficiency in reducing oral microbiota in mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an intensive care unit.Infection prevention in practice · 2024Article
- Understanding and Practices of Oral Hygiene in the Intensive Care Units: Perspectives of Medical Staff at Two University Hospital Centers.Acta stomatologica Croatica · 2024Article
- Prevention of Pneumonia due to Ventilator in Critical Patients with U Shape Oral Hygiene Model: A Systematic Review.Romanian journal of anaesthesia and intensive care · 2023Article
- The Effectiveness of Colistin/Rifampin Compared to Colistin/Meropenem in the Treatment of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia Caused by Carbapenem-resistantJournal of research in pharmacy practiceArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common infections in intubated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Oral care with chlorhexidine is a conventional method for maintaining hygiene. Recently, adjuvant methods have been introduced into routine oral care, including teeth brushing and the application of moisturizing lotion. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of VAP in critical care patients receiving oral care with and without manual teeth brushing and the application of moisturizers to the mouth.
methodsWe conducted a prospective randomized control study comprised of 220 ICU patients between 18 and 65 years of age, and of either sex. The patients were divided into two groups of 110 each. Care for the study group (group S) consisted of chlorhexidine wash, tooth brushing, and moisturizing gel over gums, buccal mucosa, and lips. The control group (group C) was treated with chlorhexidine wash only. The oral assessment was done at 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours using the Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS). Pneumonia was assessed based on abnormal chest x-rays, fever, chest auscultation, endotracheal culture report, and the incidence of VAP, and mortality was observed Results: Abnormal chest x-rays, positive auscultatory findings, fevers, and positive culture reports were significantly reduced in group S compared to these measurements in group C. The incidences of VAP and mortality were also significantly lower in group S compared with the incidences in group C.
conclusionsOral care with chlorhexidine mouth wash and the adjuvant measures reduced VAP and, consequently mortality and hospital stays. Tooth brushing along with standard oral care provides an additional advantage in the prevention of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients. Compulsory tooth brushing, if included in regular oral care yields better results in terms of decreased incidence of VAP, length of ICU stay, and mortality.
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