title: Influence of periodontitis in the development of nosocomial pneumonia: a case control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although a number of studies on the role of periodontitis in the development of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) have been published, the debate surrounding the existence and nature of this association continues. The present study investigates the influence of periodontitis in NP.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study involved 315 individuals: 85 cases (with NP) and 230 controls (without NP), at a general hospital in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and lifestyle habits were recorded. A full-mouth periodontal examination was performed and periodontal condition assessed. The diagnosis of NP was made in accordance with established medical criteria, after physical, microbiologic, and/or radiographic examination. Logistic regression was used to calculate the strength of the association between periodontitis and NP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with periodontitis were three times as likely to present with NP (unadjusted odds ratio [OR unadjusted] = 3.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.82 to 5.15) as those without periodontal disease. After adjusting for age, time between hospitalization and data collection, last visit to dentist, smoking habit, and present occupation, the association measurement had a slight decrease (OR adjusted = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.59 to 5.19), but the results continued to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that periodontal infection may influence the development of NP, highlighting that periodontitis is a factor positively associated with this respiratory tract infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isaac Suzart
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gomes-Filho
authors.forename: Thais Feitosa Leitão
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Simone Seixas
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: da Cruz
authors.forename: Johelle de Santana
authors.initials: Jde S
authors.lastname: Passos-Soares
authors.forename: Soraya Castro
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Michelle Teixeira
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Adelmir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souza-Machado
authors.forename: Álvaro Augusto
authors.initials: ÁA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Maurício Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Gregory John
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult