Analysis of oral risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: This a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between oral health findings and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from medical records, and a detailed oral physical examination was performed on 663 critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Data were statistically analysed using univariate and logistic regression models relating the development of VAP with the oral findings. RESULTS: At oral physical examination, the most frequent findings were tooth loss (568-85.67%), coated tongue (422-63.65%) and oral bleeding (192-28.96%). Patients with a coated tongue or oral bleeding on the first day of ICU hospitalization developed more VAP than did patients without these conditions (20.14 vs 13.69%, p = 0.02; 23.44 vs 15.50%, p = 0.01, respectively). In the logistic regression, a coated tongue and oral bleeding were considered independent risk factors for VAP development (OR = 1.61 (1.03-2.51) and OR = 1.69 (1.08-2.66), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a coated tongue and oral bleeding in ICU admission could be considered markers for the development of VAP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this paper reinforce the importance of proper maintenance of oral hygiene before intubation, which may lead to a decrease in the incidence of VAP in the ICU.

Widespread Sporadic Type Burkitt Lymphoma Presenting as Dental Mobility and Premature Eruption of Permanent Teeth in a Child.

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm frequently involving the jawbones in children. The main purpose of this article is to report the case of a nine-year-old boy with widespread BL diagnosed through oral findings. The patient was referred after complaining of dental mobility for two weeks. The physical examination revealed premature eruption of permanent teeth. The periapical radiographic examination showed a diffuse bone rarefaction in the involved area. An incisional biopsy was performed, leading to the diagnosis of BL. The patient was then treated with chemotherapy and is free of disease after an 18-month follow-up. The main signs and symptoms of an oral BL could mimic a dental problem, thus it is extremely important to be knowledgeable about this disease, which can be fatal without early diagnosis and treatment.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer Mimicking Peri-Implantitis in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) is characterized by cutaneous and/or mucosal ulcers in patients receiving immunosuppressive medication or with age-related immunosenescence. Its microscopic appearance often leads to a diagnostic challenge, sometimes mimicking an overt lymphoma. A 47-year-old woman, with a previous diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, was referred for evaluation of a gingival ulcer, present for about 2 months and located in the maxillary peri-implant mucosa around implants, resembling peri-implantitis. An incisional biopsy was performed, and the microscopic evaluation showed a polymorphic infiltrate with some Reed-Sternberg-like cells. Immunohistochemistry showed positive findings for CD20, CD30, CD45, PAX-5, MUM-1, LMP-1 and EBER1/2, establishing the diagnosis of EBVMCU. After 2 months, total regression of the lesion was noted without any intervention. We discuss the possible association between the EBVMCU and systemic lupus erythematosus; to our knowledge, this is the first report of an EBVMCU simulating peri-implantitis.

Histopathologic and Histomorphometric Analysis of Irradiation Injury in Bone and the Surrounding Soft Tissues of the Jaws.

PURPOSE: Surgery of irradiated tissue has an increased complication rate because of the development of hypovascular, hypocellular, and hypoxic tissue. This study was undertaken to perform histopathologic and histomorphometric analyses of irradiation tissue injury in bone and the surrounding soft tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The histopathologic findings of 40 human mandibular bones and the surrounding soft tissue specimens obtained from different patients who underwent surgical procedures for treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws were reviewed. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination showed 7 processes in the following order of appearance: hyperemia, endarteritis, thrombosis, cell loss, hypovascularity, increase of fat in the bone marrow cavity, and fibrosis. Histomorphometric analysis showed significant hypocellularity (P = .007), hypovascularity (P < .001), and fibrosis (P < .001) in irradiated specimens compared with control specimens. CONCLUSION: These results showed that radiation injuries affect the bone and surrounding soft tissues. However, the irradiation-induced injuries, such as cellular loss (hypocellularity) and fibrosis, were more expressive in bone tissue than in the surrounding soft tissues.