Oral health care in adult intensive care units: A national point prevalence study.

BACKGROUND: The importance of good oral hygiene for patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is well recognized, however, the most effective way to achieve good oral care in the ICU is unclear. AIM: This study aimed to provide a national picture of oral care practices in adult ICUs in the United Kingdom (UK) to identify areas for improvement. STUDY DESIGN: A national one-day point prevalence study was undertaken in adult ICUs in the UK in the period from 30th September to 14th October 2021. Data were collected on all patients in the ICU on the date of data collection. Using a validated electronic data collection form, anonymised data were collected on methods and frequency of oral care provided, and the use of oral care protocols within the ICU. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Data from 195 patients in 15 ICUs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were collected. Written oral care protocols were available for use in the care of 65% (n = 127) of patients. 73% (n = 142) of patients received oral care within the 24-h period. Oral care methods included toothbrushing 41% (n = 79), foam sticks 3% (n = 5), moisturizing the oral cavity 10% (n = 19) and mouth rinse with chlorhexidine 3% (n = 5) and other oral care methods not specified 12% (n = 23). 44% (n = 85) of patients had an oral assessment within the 24-h period and variable assessment methods were used. CONCLUSION: There is large variability in oral care provision and methods for intubated ICU patients and a lack of consensus was revealed in the study. Oral assessment is conducted less frequently using multiple tools. Optimal oral care standards and further research into oral care provision is pivotal to address this important patient-relevant practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Oral care is a fundamental part of care for ICU patients, however, there is a large degree of variability, and oral care is often not based upon oral assessment. The use of an oral care protocol and oral assessments would help to improve patient care, ease of use for staff and provide a tailored oral care plan for patients, improving efficiency and preventing wasted resources.

Quantitative oral health assessments in mechanically ventilated patients: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Oral health is a key contributor to a person's overall health. Previous studies indicate that oral health deteriorates throughout ventilation and may contribute to the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Oral health at the time of initial ventilation may impact on this deterioration. AIMS: To determine the quantitative clinical assessment methods used to measure oral health and what is currently known regarding the oral health of patients at the time of initial ventilation. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic literature search using electronic bibliographic databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was undertaken for this scoping review. Studies were included if patients were >18 years old and mechanically ventilated for <48 h at the time of the first oral assessment. RESULTS: In total, 12 studies were included. The review demonstrates a limited understanding of clinical oral health at the time of initial ventilation. Significant variation in both assessment methods and reporting of oral health makes comparison of results difficult resulting in a poor overall understanding of oral health at the time of intubation. CONCLUSION: Standardized assessment and reporting methods may improve clinical application of findings and help direct future research. We suggest developing a core outcome set to ensure consistent use of assessment tools as well as standardized reporting of results. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is essential that a good understanding of oral health at the time of initial ventilation is gained so that patients receive more targeted oral hygiene intervention in ICU, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes.