title: The effectiveness of commonly used mouthwashes for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a systematic review.
abstract: Daily chlorhexidine mouthwash is often recommended for preventing chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Povidone-iodine, NaCl 0.9%, water salt soda solution and chamomile mouthwash are also recommended. However, the effectiveness of these mouthwashes is unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of mouthwashes in preventing and ameliorating chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Based on study quality, three out of five randomized controlled trials were included in a meta-analysis. The results failed to detect any beneficial effects of chlorhexidine as compared with sterile water, or NaCl 0.9%. Patients complained about negative side-effects of chlorhexidine, including teeth discoloration and alteration of taste in two of the five studies on chlorhexidine. The severity of oral mucositis was shown to be reduced by 30% using a povidone-iodine mouthwash as compared with sterile water in a single randomized controlled trial. These results do not support the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash to prevent oral mucositis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands. c.potting@cis.umcn.nl
authors.forename: C M J
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Potting
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uitterhoeve
authors.forename: W Scholte
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Op Reimer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Achterberg
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes