Impact of tooth brushing on oral bacteriota and health care-associated infections among ventilated COVID-19 patients: an intervention study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Up to 48% of ventilated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients develop ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) during hospitalization in an ICU. Dysbiotic oral microbiota can colonize the lower respiratory tract and lead to VAP. It is recommended to introduce oral care strategies in the ICU to prevent VAP. In this study, we observed the impact of an oral hygienic protocol with tooth brushing on cultivable oral bacteriota, the incidence of HAI and patient safety among mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in an ICU setting.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, we recruited 56 adult COVID-19 patients who qualified for mechanical ventilation. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the oral care procedure: standard and extended oral procedures w

SUBMITTER: Gregorczyk-Maga I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9992909 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature