Article Summary

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Oral Care Treatment Oral Care Treatment

Oral Care Treatment

Nosocomial pneumonia is a fatal disease that contributes to patients morbidity and mortality . Various research studies and clinical statistics indicate that it is the most common infection in intensive care units and is the premier source of mortality caused by nosocomial infections Medically verified and verifiable evidence manifests that development of nosocomial pneumonia happens due to the colonization of the oropharynx Furthermore , research indicates that the prime cause of this nosocomial pneumonia is pathogenic bacteria in dental plaque

as this plaque turn into a microhabitat for organisms and offer chance for adherence either to the tooth surface or to other microorganisms . The pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms translocate and colonize the lung , and ultimate outcome of this process is VAP . These research findings clearly illustrate the importance of constant and regular removal of plaque . So it is obvious that removal of dental plaque minimizes the chances of nosocomial pneumonia and the easiest way to remove and retain dental plaque is brushing So medical professionals especially nurses must make it a mandatory practice to develop and implement a all-inclusive oral hygiene program for patients in critical care and acute care settings who are at high risk for healthcare-associated pneumonia . Nurses must capacitate the patients to make it a habitual formation to brush teeth , gums and tongue at least twice a day Research studies and clinical evidence suggest that in addition to normal brushing of teeth , rinsing chlorhexidine gluconate is an effective therapy in reducing nonsocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing heart surgery . For example American Journal of Critical Care (2003 ) illustrates that Peridex (0 .12 chlorhexidine mouth rinse ) is an

antimicrobial agent effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and its rinse reduce the stated bacteria to a level of 87 and 84 respectively . This high rate of effectiveness makes it a mandatory medical prescription for patient of reducing nonsocomial pneumonia . So nurses must assure that patients take an oral chlorhexidine gluconate (0 .12 ) rinse twice a day during the preoperative period for adult patients who are going to experience or experience heart surgery To put all above habitual formation of patients into a clinical practice , nurses must ensure that their unit must be capacitated with standard written rules and regulations for oral care . Secondly , they must document the oral care history of patients and must ensure that the patients ' frequency of oral care practices i .e . brushing and oral cavity moisturizing , is regular and non-interrupted . They must prove necessary information to the patients about the positive aspects and effect of oral care in to make them regular and consistent users of oral care therapy . Finally , they must help the authorities to make oral care treatment and procedures a part of the unit 's treatment strategy References

American Journal of Critical Care , November 2002 , 11 , 6 .567...