Efficacy of oral chlorhexidine in critical care

Matt P Wise¹ , Jade M Cole¹ , David W Williams² , Mike A Lewis² and Paul J Frost¹

¹Adult Critical Care, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK

²Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine & Pathology, Cardiff University, Dental School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2008, 12:419doi:10.1186/cc6886


Published:	14 May 2008

See related review by Jelic et al., http://ccforum.com/content/12/2/209

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

In their review of airway hygiene, Jelic and colleagues highlighted that colonization or infection of the upper airway precedes the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia [1]. Although the effects of chlorhexidine on reducing pneumonia were discussed, there was no mention of the possible contribution of physical plaque removal, in particular tooth brushing, which is often performed either infrequently or inadequately in mechanically ventilated patients [1]. Such removal is important because in critically ill patients the normal microflora of dental plaque becomes rapidly colonized by potential pathogens, and this biofilm serves as a reservoir for the subsequent development of ventilator-associated pneumonia [2,3].