title: Ventilator-associated pneumonia: the importance of oral care in intubated adults.
abstract: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurs within 24 hours of intubation and mechanical ventilation. Health care costs related to increased patient mortality, extended length of stay, and patient well-being make treatment of VAP a priority in all health care settings. The Institute for Healthcare Improvements has developed the Ventilator Bundle as a group of interventions linked to ventilator care with demonstrated outcome improvements; removal of subglottic secretions is one of these recommendations. Dental plaque and bacterial colonization of pathogens is directly related to microaspiration of bacteria into the lungs. A moist environment in the mouth maintains normal oropharyngeal bacteria, preventing overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. Frequent oral care to include twice-a-day brushing of the teeth found a 69% reduction in respiratory tract infections.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA. Karen.stonecypher@va.gov
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stonecypher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology