NCT00234598

Strategies to Prevent Pneumonia (SToP Pneumonia)

Oral Care Intervention in Mechanically Ventilated Adults

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 547 (actual)
• Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study tests whether special oral care provided by nurses to critically ill patients who are on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) can help to reduce the build-up of dental plaque on the teeth and reduce the risk of pneumonia.

Detailed description

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death from hospital-acquired infections. Intubation and mechanical ventilation greatly increase the risk of bacterial ventilator associated pneumonia. Growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria in dental plaque of critically ill patients provides a nidus of infection for microorganisms that have been shown to be responsible for the development of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. Since these organisms are concentrated in dental plaque, removal of organisms from the oral cavity by oral care interventions is a theoretically attractive method to reduce the risk of development of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. However, evidence-based protocols for oral care of mechanically ventilated patients are not available. Results of the study have the potential to improve nursing care, and to positively affect patient well-being, morbidity, mortality, and health care costs.

Conditions

• Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Toothbrushing only	Toothbrushing three times per 24 hours without chlorhexidine
PROCEDURE	Chlorhexidine only	Chlorhexidine oral rinse twice per 24 hours without toothbrushing
PROCEDURE	Toothbrushing and Chlorhexidine	Toothbrushing three times per 24 hours plus chlorhexidine twice per 24 hours.

Timeline

• Start date: 2002-03-01
• Primary completion: 2008-02-01
• Completion: 2008-02-01
• First posted: 2005-10-07
• Last updated: 2015-12-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States