Relationship between oral motor dysfunction and oral bacteria in bedridden elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between oral bacterial colonization and oral motor dysfunction.


METHODS
Oral motor dysfunction (swallowing and speech disorders) and detection of oral bacterial species from dental plaque in 55 elderly persons who had remained hospitalized for more than 3 months were investigated and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The detection rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were significantly higher in subjects with than in those without a swallowing disorder. A similar result was found with regard to the presence of a speech disorder. About half of subjects who had oral motor dysfunction and hypoalbuminemia had colonization by MRSA and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the combination of oral motor dysfunction and hypoalbminemia elevated the risk of opportunistic microorganisms colonization in the oral cavity of elderly patients hospitalized over the long term.
Chiba City Health Center Japan.
Akio
A
Tada
Masashi
M
Shiiba
Hidetaka
H
Yokoe
Nobuhiro
N
Hanada
Hideki
H
Tanzawa
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000382:microbiology; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification