title: Effects of oral care solutions on mucous membrane integrity and bacterial colonization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research was conducted with the aim of determining the influence of three different oral care solutions on oral mucous membrane integrity in critically ill patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Oral care is a basic part of nursing care in intensive care units.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 patients (20 patients in each group) comprised the study sample of the research. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups. Patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 were administered mouth care three times a day using 5% sodium bicarbonate, 0·2% chlorhexidine and saline solution, respectively. Data were collected by means of a 'Descriptive characteristics form' and an 'oral assessment tool'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores of oral assessment tool increased according to days in all groups, however, this increase was found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0·05). Mean scores of the patients in saline solution group were seen to be lower than those of the other groups. When inter-group comparison of days was done, the difference between oral assessment scores was found to be statistically significant (p = 0·000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was found that there was no difference between patient groups receiving saline solution, sodium bicarbonate and 0·2% chlorhexidine for mouth care in terms of oral mucous membrane integrity; oral mucosa of all patients was found to be mildly dysfunctioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is thought that standardized protocols for oral hygiene developed in the light of the findings of randomized controlled trials may improve the oral health in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: D Özden, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Fundamentals of Nursing Department, Cumhuriyet University, Health Sciences Faculty, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özden
authors.forename: Gülengün
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Türk
authors.forename: Cevdet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Düger
authors.forename: Elem K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.forename: Zuhal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gülsoy
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Intensive care unit; Mechanical ventilation; Oral care; Oral care solutions