Effect of gingival and dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on nosocomial infections acquired in the intensive care unit: a double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
To document the effect of gingival and dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on the rate of nosocomial bacteremias and respiratory infections acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
Prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy study.


METHODS
Six ICUs: three in university hospitals and three in general hospitals.


METHODS
A total of 228 nonedentulous patients requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, with an anticipated length of stay > or =5 days.


METHODS
Antiseptic decontamination of gingival and dental plaque with a 0.2% chlorhexidine gel or a placebo gel, three times a day, during the entire ICU stay.


RESULTS
Demographic and clinical characteristics, organ function data (Logistic Organ Dysfunction score), severity of condition (Simplified Acute Physiologic Score), and dental plaque status were assessed at baseline and until 28 days. Bacteriologic sampling of dental plaque and saliva was done every 5 days, and blood, tracheal aspirate, and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures were performed when appropriate. The primary efficacy end point was the incidence of bacteremia, bronchitis, and ventilator-associated pneumonia, expressed as a percentage and per 1000 ICU days. All baseline characteristics were similar between the treated and the placebo groups. The incidence of nosocomial infections was 17.5% (13.2 per 1000 ICU days) in the placebo group and 18.4% (13.3 per 1000 ICU days) in the plaque antiseptic decontamination group (not significant). No difference was observed in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia per ventilator or intubation days, mortality, length of stay, and care loads (secondary end points). On day 10, the number of positive dental plaque cultures was significantly lower in the treated group (29% vs. 66%; p < .05). Highly resistant Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacter species identified in late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia and previously cultured from dental plaque were not eradicated by the antiseptic decontamination. No side effect was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Gingival and dental plaque antiseptic decontamination significantly decreased the oropharyngeal colonization by aerobic pathogens in ventilated patients. However, its efficacy was insufficient to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections due to multiresistant bacteria.
Fourrier
François
F
Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Université de Lille II, France.
Dubois
Didier
D
Pronnier
Philippe
P
Herbecq
Patrick
P
Leroy
Olivier
O
Desmettre
Thibaut
T
Pottier-Cau
Elodie
E
Boutigny
Hervé
H
Di Pompéo
Christophe
C
Durocher
Alain
A
Roussel-Delvallez
Micheline
M
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine