title: Oral care in Brazilian bone marrow transplant centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral care is a fundamental procedure for the success of the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly regarding the control of oral infectious diseases. Information about oral care protocols and the inclusion of dental professionals in transplantation medical staff is poorly known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to carry out a survey about the protocols of Brazilian dental professionals with regard to oral care of HSCT patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to 36 Brazilian transplant centers with questions about basic oral care protocols, the indication of specific mouthwashes, antibiotic therapy regimens, laser therapy, and treatment of oral mucositis and graft-versus-host disease. All the respondent centers (n = 12) have dentists as members of the HSCT medical staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority indicate non-alcoholic chlorhexidine (n = 9; 75.0%) and sodium bicarbonate (n = 5; 41.7%) as routine mouthwashes. Laser therapy was frequently indicated (n= 9; 75.0%), mainly in the prevention of oral mucositis and in oral pain control. In the post-transplant period, antibiotic therapy was only indicated for invasive dental treatments (n= 8; 66.7%). Several treatments for graft-versus-host disease were mentioned without a trend towards establishing a standard protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basic oral care constitutes regular assessment in the routine treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients in Brazilian centers.
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplant Center, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda de Paula
authors.initials: Fde P
authors.lastname: Eduardo
authors.forename: Letícia Mello
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bezinelli
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamerschlak
authors.forename: Claudia Toledo
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Leonardo Raul
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrêa
keywords: Bone marrow transplantation; Graft-versus-host disease; Mucositis; Oral health