title: Effect of oral hygiene interventions on opportunistic pathogens in patients after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the role of the oral cavity as a reservoir of opportunistic pathogens for infection in patients following stroke, the evaluation of the effects of oral hygiene interventions has been largely neglected.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized clinical trial included 102 patients undergoing hospital-based rehabilitation for stroke. Patients were randomized to one of 3 groups: oral hygiene instruction (OHI) only; OHI and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse twice daily; or OHI, 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse twice daily, and assisted brushing twice weekly. Oral samples were obtained at baseline and after 3 weeks for detection of Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative bacilli, and yeasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost three-quarters (72.8%) of the patients harbored oral anaerobic gram-negative bacilli at baseline, and more than half had detectable S aureus (56.8%) and yeasts (59.3%). Percentage frequencies and viable counts of pathogens remained relatively stable during the course of the clinical trial, and no significant differences were observed among the 3 patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study cohort, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of the 3 different oral hygiene interventions on the prevalence or viable counts of oral opportunistic pathogens.
authors: Oral Rehabilitation 4/F, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong.
authors: Otto L T
authors: OL
authors: Lam
authors: Anne S
authors: AS
authors: McMillan
authors: Lakshman P
authors: LP
authors: Samaranayake
authors: Leonard S W
authors: LS
authors: Li
authors: Colman
authors: C
authors: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine