Letter
Efficacy of oral chlorhexidine in critical care
1 Adult Critical Care, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
2 Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine & Pathology, Cardiff University, Dental School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK
Critical Care 2008, 12:419 doi:10.1186/cc6886
See related review by Jelic et al., http://ccforum.com/content/12/2/209
Published: 14 May 2008First 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].
