Control of dental biofilm on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: Literature review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a hospital infection that has been associated with dental biofilm and oropharynx colonization of intubated patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review of randomized clinical trials on the control of dental plaque on the prevention of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was performed in PubMed, using the following keywords: “oral hygiene AND mechanical ventilation AND pneumonia”. RESULTS: A number of 2,230 articles were found and, from the reading of their abstracts, 19 articles were eligible for full-text reading. With the reading of these selected articles, 10 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. At the end of the analysis of articles found, 9 studies were selected and their data presented through a table, in which the results between test group and control group are described. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that oral hygiene in patients on mechanical ventilation can positively influence the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.