Oral Care Interventions Research Articles

Evaluation of effects of perioperative oral care intervention on hospitalization stay and postoperative infection in patients undergoing lung cancer intervention.

This retrospective study investigated the effect of perioperative oral care intervention on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lung cancer resection, in terms of the length of postoperative hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative respiratory infections. In total, 585 patients underwent lung resection for lung cancer, 397 received perioperative oral care intervention, whereas the remaining 188 did not. This study retrospectively investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics (including postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay) of each group. To determine whether perioperative oral care intervention was independently associated with either postoperative hospital stay or postoperative respiratory infections, multivariate analysis, multiple regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. Parameters significantly associated with a prolonged postoperative hospital stay in lung cancer surgery patients were older age, postoperative complications, increased intraoperative bleeding, more invasive operative approach (e.g., open surgery), and lack of perioperative oral care intervention (standard partial regression coefficient (ß) = 0.083, p= 0.027). Furthermore, older age and longer operative time were significant independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory infections. Lack of perioperative oral care intervention was a potential risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory infections, although not statistically significant (odds ratio = 2.448, 95% confidence interval = 0.966-6.204, p = 0.059). These results highlight the importance of perioperative oral care intervention prior to lung cancer surgery, in order to shorten postoperative hospital stay and reduce the risk of postoperative respiratory infections.

Enhanced oral hygiene interventions as a risk mitigation strategy for the prevention of non-ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Healthcare-acquired pneumonias are a significant risk for nursing home and hospital patients. While oral care interventions (OCIs) have been found to be effective in reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), their utility in mitigating non-ventilator-associated pneumonias (NVAP) remains unknown. We performed a structured meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised clinical trials of enhanced oral hygiene procedures on NVAP.Methods We searched PubMed and Embase to include clinical trials (randomised and non-randomised), and observational (retrospective and prospective) and quasi-experimental studies examining the effect of any method of OCI on incidence of NVAP.Results After quality assessment and consensus agreement between authors, we synthesised six randomised clinical trials (3,891 patients), two non-randomised trials (2,993 patients), and separately assessed a retrospective trial (143 patients) and a quasi-experimental study (83 patients). Most studies, performed in nursing homes, did not show a significant association between OCI and NVAP prevention (RR random 0.89, 95% CI 0.64-1.25, p value 0.50). Likewise, the non-randomised trials failed to show an association between NVAP risk and OCI (RR random 1.42, 95% CI, 0.70-2.88, p value 0.32). However, in the subgroup analysis comparing dental professional involvement in care vs usual care, reduced NVAP risk was demonstrated (RR random 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.98, p value 0.03).Conclusions Study results suggest that professional dental care may confer some benefit among NVAP patients. The lack of consistent OCI protocols, data in hospitalised patients and robust randomised clinical trials do not allow definitive conclusions about the contribution of OCI in mitigating NVAP risk.Zusatzmaterial online: Zu diesem Beitrag sind unter 10.1038/s41415-020-1452-7 für autorisierte Leser zusätzliche Dateien abrufbar.

THE EFFECT OF ORAL CARE INTERVENTION ON ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF INTUBATED PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Background: Oral infections can be a potential source of infection resulting in a variety of systemic diseases, especially in intubated patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Endotracheal tube (ETT) of the intubated patient’s mouth can be an entry point and place of bacteria colonization that causes ventilator-associated pneumonia which is one of the causes of the patient’s death in ICU. Nurses as caregivers have an important role in providing oral care intervention to maintain oral health and prevent the infection.
 Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of oral care intervention on oral health status of intubated patients in the ICU. 
 Methods: This was a pre-experimental study with one group pre-test post-test design. A consecutive sampling was used to select 18 intubated patients in the ICU of Al Islam hospital in Bandung. Oral health status was evaluated by Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS). Descriptive analysis was used for the univariate analysis and t-test was used for bivariate analysis. 
 Results: The results showed that oral health scores before and after intervention were 11.94 and 13.28 (p=.004). The BOAS subscales had a significant worsening of the lips, gingiva, oral mucosa and saliva (p<.05), while there was an improvement in teeth subscale after oral care intervention (p<.001).
 Conclusion: The results suggested that the oral health status of intubated patients had worsened, despite routinely oral care intervention using chlorhexidine gluconate. Mucosa care may become an essential part of the oral care intervention for intubated patients. Therefore, additional topical agent is needed to maintain the moisture of the mucosal membrane, so that the oral health status of intubated patients will be better.

Poor oral health and mortality in geriatric patients admitted to an acute hospital: an observational study

BackgroundPoor oral health at hospital admission is a potential higher mortality risk predictor. We aimed to determine in-hospital mortality by assessing poor oral health using a validated tool.MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted in an acute care hospital, and 624 consecutive geriatric patients were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to oral health, stratified by the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores. Nutritional status, daily living activities, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities were collected as covariates. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the relationship between oral health and survival.ResultsThe mean age was 83.8 ± 7.9 years, and 41% were males. Groups with an OHAT score equivalent to 0, 1–2, and ≥ 3 comprised 213, 206, and 205 patients, and 11 (5.2%), 13 (6.3%), and 37 (18.0%) of those patients died in the hospital, respectively. Patients in the OHAT score ≥ 3 group had higher mortality than those in the other groups (log-rank test: p = 0.012 for the OHAT = 0 group; p = 0.010 for the OHAT = 1–2 group after Bonferroni corrections). Patients in the OHAT score ≥ 3 group continued to have poor survival even after adjusting for confounders in the Cox’s regression analysis (hazard ratio: 2.514, 95% confidence interval: 1.220–5.183, p = 0.012).ConclusionIn geriatric patients, poor oral health at hospital admission was an independent in-hospital mortality predictor. Future studies on oral care intervention stratified by oral health conditions are warranted.

Prevention of postoperative pneumonia by perioperative oral care in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing surgery: a multicenter retrospective study of 775 patients.

Postoperative pneumonia is one of the major complications after esophageal cancer surgery. The risk factors associated with postoperative pneumonia are poor general health, smoking, decreased pulmonary function, diabetes mellitus, surgical stress, old age, postoperative aspiration, and oral hygiene. In this study, we examined the effect of perioperative oral care on reducing postoperative pneumonia since the evidence to-date is not clear. A multicenter, retrospective investigation of the relationship between perioperative oral care and incidence of postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery was conducted. A total of 775 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophageal resection at 25 hospitals between 2016 and 2017 were enrolled in the study. Various factors were examined for correlation with development of postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate analysis showed that old age, smoking habit, lower hemoglobin, higher creatinine, postoperative dysphagia, and lack of oral care intervention were independent risk factors for pneumonia. Oral care was more effective in preventing pneumonia in hospitals in which the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was lower than 20%, while it was not effective in hospitals in which the incidence was higher than 20%. Results of the study suggest that it is recommended to carry out perioperative oral care in esophageal cancer surgery.

Effects of a swallowing and oral care intervention for patients following endotracheal extubation: a pre- and post-intervention study

BackgroundFor patients who survive a critical illness and have their oral endotracheal tube removed, dysphagia is highly prevalent, and without intervention, it may persist far beyond hospital discharge. This pre- and post-intervention study with historical controls tested the effects of a swallowing and oral care (SOC) intervention on patients’ time to resume oral intake and salivary flow following endotracheal extubation.MethodsThe sample comprised intensive care unit patients (≥ 50 years) successfully extubated after ≥ 48 h endotracheal intubation. Participants who received usual care (controls, n = 117) were recruited before 2015, and those who received usual care plus the intervention (n = 54) were enrolled after 2015. After extubation, all participants were assessed by a blinded nurse for daily intake status (21 days) and whole-mouth unstimulated salivary flow (2, 7, 14 days). The intervention group received the nurse-administered SOC intervention, comprising toothbrushing/salivary gland massage, oral motor exercise, and safe-swallowing education daily for 14 days or until hospital discharge.ResultsThe intervention group received 8.3 ± 4.2 days of SOC intervention, taking 15.4 min daily with no reported adverse event (coughing, wet voice, or decreased oxygen saturation) during and immediately after intervention. Participants who received the intervention were significantly more likely than controls to resume total oral intake after extubation (aHR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08–2.91). Stratified by age group, older participants (≥ 65 years) in the SOC group were 2.47-fold more likely than their younger counterparts to resume total oral intake (aHR 2.47, 95% CI 1.31–4.67). The SOC group also had significantly higher salivary flows 14 days following extubation (β = 0.67, 95% CI 0.29–1.06).ConclusionsThe nurse-administered SOC is safe and effective, with greater odds of patients’ resuming total oral intake and increased salivary flows 14 days following endotracheal extubation. Age matters with SOC; it more effectively helped participants ≥ 65 years old resume total oral intake postextubation.Trial registrationNCT02334774, registered on January 08, 2015

Oral diseases in Geriatric patients; pattern of presentation and challenges of management in a developing economy

Objectives: To determine the pattern of orofacial diseases, oral care interventions and co-morbidities in the elderly Background: Aging is accompanied by changes in every part of the body including orofacial tissues. These changes are often overlooked when considering health care demands of the elderly. Empirical insights into the pattern and risk factors to oral diseases of elderly Nigerians which are of public health importance are scarce. Materials and Methods: Electronic records of 275 elderly patients aged ≥60 years who attended the dental unit of our facility between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2015 were analyzed. Data extracted included the sociodemographic characteristics, reasons for encounter, orofacial diagnoses and co-morbidities. Results: The mean age of the patients studied was 70.8 ± 7.5 years and 185 (67.3%) of these patients were females. The major reasons for the dental visits were toothache (54.9%) and cleaning of teeth (14.2%). Periodontal diseases (68.0%) and endodontic lesions (11.3%) were the commonest orofacial diagnoses. Overall, there were 780 (2.8 per elderly) missing teeth. Scaling and polishing 140 (50.9%) and tooth extraction 98 (35.6%) were the most frequent orofacial procedures. There was an average of 1.5 co-morbid medical condition per elderly patient studied. Hypertension (51.3%) and osteoarthritis (29.1%) were the most common co-morbid medical conditions in the patients we studied. Conclusion: Periodontal and endodontic lesions were the commonest orofacial infections in these patients while hypertension and osteoarthritis were the most common co-morbid medical conditions seen amongst elderly patients seen at the dental unit of our geriatric health centre. These findings will be useful for the setting up and management of elderly patients needing oral health care in Nigeria.

Exploration of difficulty accessing the mouths of intubated and mechanically ventilated adults for oral care: A video and photographic elicitation study.

To explore descriptors of difficulty accessing the mouths of intubated and mechanically ventilated adults for oral care, consequences, modifiable antecedents and recommendations for improving care delivery. Nurses report oral access and care delivery difficulty in most mechanically ventilated patients. A prospective qualitative descriptive design. Data were collected using video and photographic elicitation interviews focused on delivery of oral care. Directed content analysis was used to explore descriptive categories. Reporting used the SRQR guidelines. A university-affiliated hospital in Toronto, Canada. Participants included clinicians experienced in accessing the oral space of adults representing nursing, medicine, dentistry and allied health professionals. We recruited 18 participants; 9 representing critical care and 9 other specialties frequently accessing the mouth, that is dentistry. Descriptors for observed difficulty accessing the oral cavity were "oral crowding with tubes" and "aversive patient responses", which were considered to result in insufficient oral care. Participants perceived aversive patient responses (e.g. biting, turning head side to side, gagging, coughing) as a consequence of forced introduction of instruments inside a crowded mouth. A key finding identified by participants was the observation of substantial procedural pain during oral care interventions. Potentially modifiable antecedents to difficult oral care delivery identified were procedural pain, oral health deterioration (e.g. xerostomia) and lack of interprofessional team problem-solving. Recommendations to address these antecedents included patient preparation for oral care through verbal and nonverbal cueing, pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies, and ICU interprofessional education. Oral care in mechanically ventilated adults is complex and painful. Visual research methods offer important advantages for oral care exploration including its ability to reveal less visible aspects of the nurse-patient encounter, thereby enabling novel insights and care. Interprofessional education and training in oral health and care interventions tailored to mechanically ventilated patients are recommended.

Systematic review of basic oral care for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines.

The aim of this study was to update the clinical practice guidelines for the use of basic oral care (BOC) interventions for the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis (OM). A systematic review was conducted by the Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society for Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). The body of evidence for each intervention in each cancer treatment setting was assigned an evidence level. The findings were added to the database used to develop the 2013 MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines. Based on the evidence level, one of the following three guideline determinations was possible: Recommendation, Suggestion, No guideline possible. A total of 17 new papers across six interventions were examined and merged with a previous database. Based on the literature, the following guidelines were possible. The panel suggests that the implementation of multi-agent combination oral care protocols is beneficial for the prevention of OM during chemotherapy, head and neck (H&N) radiation therapy (RT), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Level of Evidence III). The panel suggests that chlorhexidine not be used to prevent OM in patients undergoing H&N RT (Level of Evidence III). No guideline was possible for professional oral care, patient education, saline, and sodium bicarbonate, and expert opinion complemented these guidelines. The evidence supports the use of multi-agent combination oral care protocols in the specific populations listed above. Additional well-designed research is needed on the other BOC interventions prior to guideline formulation.

Improvements in Pneumonia Status After Oral Care Intervention in Taiwan

Improvements in Pneumonia Status After Oral Care Intervention in Taiwan

Effects of perioperative oral care on prevention of postoperative pneumonia after lung resection: Multicenter retrospective study with propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundPostoperative pneumonia can be a fatal complication that may occur after lung resection in cancer patients. Some reports have shown that the incidence of postoperative pneumonia is decreased after esophageal surgery by perioperative oral care; however, there exist no data to suggest that a lack of perioperative oral care can be a risk factor for postoperative pneumonia after lung resection. To investigate the association between the preventive effect of oral care and postoperative pneumonia, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective study of lung cancer patients who underwent lung resection. MethodsBetween January 2014 and December 2016, a total of 721 patients underwent lung resections at 1 of the 6 hospitals included in our study. Among 721 patients, 280 (38.8%) received perioperative oral care, and the remaining 441 (61.2%) did not receive any such care. Propensity score matching was performed to minimize selection biases associated with the comparison of retrospective data between the oral care and control groups. ResultsOf the 721 patients, 54 (7.5%) experienced postoperative pneumonia involving 13 of the 280 patients (4.6%) in the oral care group and 41 of the 441 patients (9.3%) in the control group (P = .02). On propensity score analysis, a significant difference was also found between oral care intervention and incidence of postoperative pneumonia (P = .002). ConclusionOur results suggest that perioperative oral care is an effective method to decrease the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia in patients who have undergone lung resection.

A Nurse-Driven Oral Care Protocol to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

A standardized, evidence-based oral care protocol was implemented depending on the level of care required by each ventilated, at-risk, or short-term care patient. The QI project included the introduction of a new suction toothbrush kit for at-risk patients and, for short-term patients, a new short-term oral care kit that featured a more ergonomically appropriate toothbrush, a baking soda toothpaste, and an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash; the project also supported the continued use of the then current suction toothbrush kit for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We examined medical records retrospectively and used International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and ICD 10 codes for pneumonia not present on admission to determine the incidence of HAP, including nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), in two seven-month periods: the baseline and intervention periods. Both periods were in the same seven calendar months of two different years to control for seasonal differences in pneumonia rates. Documentation of oral care interventions were compared with oral care supply use reports to measure protocol adherence in the intervention group. There were 202 patients in the baseline group and 215 in the intervention group. A χ(2) analysis of NV-HAP incidence showed a statistically significant decrease in occurrences of NV-HAP from 52 in the baseline group to 26 in the intervention group (χ(2) = 12.8, df = 1, P < 0.001). The number of patient deaths from NV-HAP also differed significantly between groups, with 20 in the baseline group and four in the intervention group (χ(2) = 4.33, df = 1, P = 0.037). NV-HAP incidence per 1,000 discharges was calculated at 2.84 in the baseline group and 1.41 in the intervention group. Among patients on a ventilator, there were 56 ventilatorassociated events (VAEs) with 12 cases of VAP in the baseline group and 49 VAEs and three cases of VAP in the intervention group. Infection rates in the baseline group were calculated as 12.53 VAEs per 1,000 ventilator days and 2.87 cases of VAP per 1,000 ventilator days. The intervention group yielded a VAE rate of 14.29 per 1,000 ventilator days and a VAP rate of 1.26 per 1,000 ventilator days. Overall, nurses' adherence to the new oral care protocol ranged from 36% to 100% per month, with an average adherence to protocol of 76% as evidenced by oral care documentation and supply use. Nurses improved pneumonia outcomes by providing oral health interventions to all adult patients admitted to the hospital, which reduced overall hospital costs, length of stay, and patient mortality.

How useful are current caries risk assessment tools in informing the oral health care decision-making process?

BackgroundCaries risk assessment (CRA) tools could address oral health disparities and enhance the efficiency of the oral health care system. The authors aimed to explore the feasibility and limitations of using clinical CRA tools in informing oral health care policy-making processes. MethodsThe authors used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to construct 10 CRA models from a sample of clinical CRA tools identified from the literature. They used these models to estimate the proportion of publicly insured people aged 1 through 20 years categorized as at low, moderate, and high risk, and they projected their oral health care costs. ResultsThe authors found substantial variation among the selected models in assigning risk levels. The weighted average proportions (range) of people categorized as at low, moderate, and high risk were 25% (0%-66%), 14% (0%-50%), and 61% (11%-100%), respectively. Depending on the CRA model, the projected annual cost of covering this population ranged from $18 billion to $127 billion. Conclusions and Practical ImplicationsDeveloping a valid, evidence-based, accurate, and reliable population-based CRA model could address the variability among clinical CRA tools, improve estimates of dental disease burden, help design targeted oral public health programs, and enable comparative effectiveness analyses among oral health care interventions.

Effects of Gargling with an Aroma Solution on Xerostomia, Halitosis, and Salivary pH in Hemodialysis Patients – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Despite developments in renal replacement therapy, therapeutic fluid restriction reportedly induces xerostomia in 28.2~85.5% of hemodialysis patients, which causes serious inconveniences in their daily living and is detrimental to their quality of life. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of gargling with an aroma solution (A-Solution) on xerostomia, halitosis, and salivary pH in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study design was a randomized controlled trial. The participants of this study were 56 hemodialysis patients of E General Hospital in Seoul, Korea. They were divided into an experimental group (n=28) treated by gargling with 20 ml of A-Solution for 15 seconds and a control group (n=28) where pateints did not gargle with A-Solution, and data were collected from October 1 to November 15, 2013. The outcome variables were measured in the pretest and at 5, 30, 60, and 120 minutes in the two groups. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS (version 18.0 for Windows). Results: Xerostomia was lower in the experimental group than in the control group at each time point apart from the pretest and differed significantly in the interaction between groups and time points. Salivary pH and halitosis differed significantly between the experimental and control groups, across time points, and in the interaction between group and time point. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that aroma gargling is a useful oral-care intervention for solving oral problems experienced by hemodialysis patients such as xerostomia and halitosis.

Oral care in cancer nursing: Practice and barriers.

Oral health awareness and oral care are crucial aspects of oncology nursing practice. However, very few studies concentrate on the oral care of cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment and nursing practice in the Indian subcontinent scenario/situation. Most of the published studies have been conducted in the Western and European countries. This study aimed to determine the nurses' practice and barriers regarding oral care in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 158 staff nurses working in oncology-related areas from four different hospitals of Dakshina Kannada district and Udupi district of Karnataka state, India. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used by using SPSS 16 version. More than half of respondents [54 (34.2%)] did not perform oral care as a part of routine duties. Maintenance of various records, lack of manpower, and lack of standard operating procedures were major barriers in providing oral care. Documentation audit revealed that nurses recorded oral care in the chart only when order was present in the care sheet, but oral problem assessment was not recorded at all. In all four hospitals surveyed, there was no protocol specifically designed for oral care of cancer patients. Nurses expressed that oral care in cancer patients was one of the most ignored aspect in oncology nursing. Our result highlights the need to develop evidence-based oral care intervention protocol and motivate staff nurses to attend continuing nursing educations regularly to keep themselves abreast of the latest trends in order to render comprehensive care to the patients.

Factors That Affect Oral Care Outcomes for Institutionalized Elderly.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an oral care intervention program on the incidence of pneumonia and fever as a surrogate endpoint. In addition, we tried to determine the oral care risk factors for the incidence of fever. We provided an oral care program for the elderly at one private nursing home in July 2013. The maximum capacity of the nursing home was 60 residents. The body temperatures of all residents were measured twice a day and were summarized as the incidence of fever over a one-month period, which was used as the dependent variable. The residents' life conditions, number of teeth, and prescribed diet were used as independent variables. The factors that affected the incidence of fever were the number of remaining teeth, a prescribed diet of sliced food, the meal care level, and the oral Candida levels. These risk factors affected the incidence of fever independently or interactively with oral care. Some risk factors for the incidence of fever were enhanced by the oral care program. It is important to evaluate and control these factors before the implementation of an oral care program.

Oral care after stroke: Where are we now?

There appears to be an association between poor oral hygiene and increased risk of aspiration pneumonia - a leading cause of mortality post-stroke. We aim to synthesise what is known about oral care after stroke, identify knowledge gaps and outline priorities for research that will provide evidence to inform best practice. A narrative review from a multidisciplinary perspective, drawing on evidence from systematic reviews, literature, expert and lay opinion to scrutinise current practice in oral care after a stroke and seek consensus on research priorities.Findings: Oral care tends to be of poor quality and delegated to the least qualified members of the caring team. Nursing staff often work in a pressured environment where other aspects of clinical care take priority. Guidelines that exist are based on weak evidence and lack detail about how best to provide oral care. Oral health after a stroke is important from a social as well as physical health perspective, yet tends to be neglected. Multidisciplinary research is needed to improve understanding of the complexities associated with delivering good oral care for stroke patients. Also to provide the evidence for practice that will improve wellbeing and may reduce risk of aspiration pneumonia and other serious sequelae. Although there is evidence of an association, there is only weak evidence about whether improving oral care reduces risk of pneumonia or mortality after a stroke. Clinically relevant, feasible, cost-effective, evidence-based oral care interventions to improve patient outcomes in stroke care are urgently needed.

Oral Care Assessment Tools and Interventions After Stroke.

Oral hygiene assessment and oral care are critical—but often overlooked—nursing interventions after a stroke. In this review, we describe the oral biofilm, threats to oral health, current oral assessment tools, and oral hygiene programs for patients who have had a stroke. In healthy individuals, the oral microbiota is predominantly Gram-positive and is sometimes characterized as the human oral microbiome database. Patients diagnosed with periodontal disease have a Gram-negative microbiome, which is associated with inflammation and infection.1 Dental plaque is composed of thick bacterial cell layers around the tooth surface. Frequently called a biofilm, this plaque thickens in individuals with poor oral hygiene.2 Because the tooth surface is uniquely defined by its nonshedding characteristics, the teeth may harbor organisms that lead to the development of a thick biofilm, a known precursor to periodontitis. Periodontitis is implicated as contributing to the worsening of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.3 Tonomura et al4 reported an association with deep cerebral microhemorrhages and intracerebral hemorrhages in patients with certain strains of a common oral pathogen, Streptococcus mutans , which harbors the CNM gene. Patients with preexisting periodontal disease who have had a stroke and have experienced dysphagia are at increased risk for translocation of pathogenic oral microbes to the lungs. DNA genomic analyses of dental plaque samples have shown that the genetic material from bronchial samples of patients in the intensive care unit with ventilator-associated pneumonia are identical,5 further underscoring the importance of oral hygiene. In 2003, Scannapieco et al6 performed a systematic review of 21 studies of periodontal disease and found a significant association between pneumonia and dental plaque or dependency for oral care. Frequent cleaning of the tooth’s surface may provide the necessary desquamative effects for decreasing the microbial burden of such pathogens.7 In people for …

Oral Health Status in Alzheimer\'s Disease Patients: A Descriptive Study in an Italian Population

To evaluate the oral health status in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A descriptive study was performed on 120 AD patients (60 institutionalized in a public institute and 60 attended a daytime center), from September 2013 to January 2014. About 103 subjects formed the control group. The following medical and dental data were collected: dementia severity, pharmacological therapy, physical status (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA]), decayed (D), filled (F), and remaining natural teeth (T), DF/T ratio, community periodontal index (CPI), and gingival index (GI). A t-test for independent samples and the Spearman's correlation test were used to evaluate all variables. The significance level was set at 0.05. Statistically more AD patients (91.7%) were under pharmacological therapy and their physical status was more severe (ASA 2, ASA 3) compared with control subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, they presented numbers of D, CPI, and GI significantly higher (p ≤ 0.005). In the institutionalized subgroup, statistically more moderate and severe AD cases were detected and more patients were edentulous (p < 0.001). Noninstitutionalized patients presented DF/T ratio, CPI, and GI significantly lower (p ≤ 0.024). A significant weak negative correlation (r = -0.121 to -0.372) between epidemiologic indices and AD severity was observed. Alzheimer's disease patients show a low oral health status that decreases progressively as the disease severity aggravates. Therefore, further studies are necessary to investigate oral health care interventions for AD patients. It would be beneficial to introduce trained professional figures in specialized elderly institutions for regular follow-up visits and professional oral hygiene procedures. This task has to be coordinated with the treating physician, family members, and/or caregivers. Knowing that the severity of AD has a negative effect on the oral health status and the type of institutionalization exacerbates it.

Efficacy of a New Post-Mouthwash Intervention (Wiping Plus Oral Nutritional Supplements) for Preventing Aspiration Pneumonia in Elderly People: A Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative Trial

Background/Aims: Aspiration pneumonia is a common cause of death among the elderly (≥90-year-old) in nursing homes. Studies suggest that its incidence could be reduced by oral care interventions. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new oral care intervention: wiping plus oral nutritional supplements (ONS). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in 252 patients (age 88.0 ± 6.5 years) in 75 nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, and other care facilities. Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 74) and a control group (n = 107), whose members received conventional oral care. Body mass index, activities of daily living (Barthel index), and complete blood count and biochemistry parameters were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months. Results: The cumulative incidence of pneumonia at 8 months tended to be lower in the intervention than in the control group (7.8 vs. 17.7%, p = 0.056) and was significantly lower for men in the intervention group (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Our new intervention “wiping plus providing ONS” method appears to help prevent aspiration pneumonia, thereby reducing mortality risk. In this study, we disseminate information on how this method is used in Japan.