title: An evidence-based oral care protocol to decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of 0.12% chlorhexidine rinses and an oral care protocol on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates. A quasi-experimental preintervention-postintervention design was used. The sample included all patients admitted to critical care and on mechanical ventilation at any time during the study period. Data were collected 6 months before and 12 months after intervention. Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates were reduced from 4.3 to 1.86 per 1000 ventilator-days during the study period, with an estimated cost avoidance of $700,000 to $798,000.
authors.affiliation: Patient Safety Reporting System, The Miriam Hospital, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuccio
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerullo
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivet
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D002710:Chlorhexidine