Impact of Oral Care and Antisepsis on the Prevalence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oral care and use of chlorhexidine gluconate on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An evaluation was performed on 229 patients admitted to ICU in 2012 (before implementation of oral care protocol) and 329 in 2013 (after the protocol). Oral care was based on the removal of secretions from the oral cavity with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution for brushing and sterile gauze for cleaning before a new aspiration. The cases of VAP were evaluated by observing respiratory signs, radiological changes, and culture and laboratory results. The following data were also analysed: gender, length hospital of stay, mechanical ventilation, use of antibiotics and aetiological agent of infection. RESULTS: There was a tendency towards lower risk of development of VAP after application of oral care protocol (odds ratio = 0.64-95% CI: 0.39-1.04). There was also a reduction in the incidence of early pneumonia (up to 72 h of hospitalisation). With regard to the aetiological agent of infections, although Gram-negative bacteria predominated in the two periods studied, there was a decrease in the cases of Staphylococcus aureus infection. CONCLUSION: Oral care protocol has statistically significantly reduced the risk of developing early VAP in ICU patients, thus demonstrating the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork for hospitalised patients.

Periodontal disease and detection of human herpesviruses in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid of chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have inability to maintain the normal levels of protein metabolism products, blood pressure and hematocrit. Periodontal disease involves an inflammatory destructive process. Identification of opportunistic viruses is extremely important as they are associated with co-morbidities. The objective of this study was to analyse the presence of human herpesviruses in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with CKD. METHODS: One hundred and thirty one individuals were divided depending on the stage of CKD: Group 1 (clearance of creatinine > 75 mL/min) patients with no renal disease (n = 24); Group 2 (clearance of creatinine of 11-75 mL/min) patients with renal disease (n = 67); Group 3 (clearance of creatinine < 10 mL/min) patients on hemodialysis (n = 40). The parameters of periodontal disease were evaluated. The viral detection was assessed by PCR. RESULTS: considering the three groups, the prevalence of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) were 9% in saliva and 5% in GCF; Epstein-Barr virus 36% in saliva and 39% in GCF; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) 11% in GCF; varicella zoster virus 6% in saliva and 3% in GCF; of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) 6% in saliva and 2% in GCF; and HHV-7 44% in saliva and 8% in GCF. Of these patients, 46.48% presented with severe periodontitis. A statistically significant association between HSV-1 and HCMV was found in hemodialysis patients and severe periodontitis was also more frequent among them. CONCLUSION: These findings show the importance of evaluating the periodontal disease and detecting herpesviruses in patients with CKD as the inflammatory process observed in these clinical conditions may worsen the course of both periodontal disease and CKD.