The role of oral microbial colonization in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
The present article reviews the association between microbial colonization of the oral cavity and the lungs in critically ill patients that develop ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. The risk factors and microorganisms associated with VAP are presented. The role of oral colonization of VAP-associated pathogens (VAP-AP) in the development of VAP is examined. We explore the potential factors involved in oral colonization of VAP-AP, which are atypical bacteria for the oral cavity. Strategies for the prevention or moderation of oral colonization of VAP-AP have had limited success. We need a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of VAP in order to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and cost from this common complication in ICU medicine and surgery.
Brennan
Michael T
MT
Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA. mike.bennan@carolinas.org
Bahrani-Mougeot
Farah
F
Fox
Philip C
PC
Kennedy
Thomas P
TP
Hopkins
Sam
S
Boucher
Richard C
RC
Lockhart
Peter B
PB
D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors