A randomized trial of chlorhexidine gluconate on oral bacterial pathogens in mechanically ventilated patients

• Published in: Critical care (London, England) Vol. 13; no. 4; p. R117
• Main Authors: Scannapieco, Frank A, Yu, Jihnhee, Raghavendran, Krishnan, Vacanti, Angela, Owens, Susan I, Wood, Kenneth, Mylotte, Joseph M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 01.01.2009; National Library of Medicine - MEDLINE Abstracts; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Acinetobacter; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Artificial respiration; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacterial pneumonia; Chlorhexidine; Chlorhexidine - administration & dosage; Chlorhexidine - analogs & derivatives; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Complications and side effects; Dental plaque; Development and progression; Dosage and administration; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Mouth; Mouth - microbiology; Mouthwashes; Placebos; Pneumonia; Prevention; Pseudomonas; Respiration, Artificial; Staphylococcus aureus; Young Adult

Dental plaque biofilms are colonized by respiratory pathogens in mechanically-ventilated intensive care unit patients. Thus, improvements in oral hygiene in these patients may prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. The goal of this study was to determine the minimum frequency (once or twice a day)...