CLINICAL EFFICACY OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN MANAGEMENT OF ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

OBJECTIVES: Despite phototherapy (in the form of photodynamic therapy (PDT)-mediated oxidative stress) being utilized in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), the evidence of certainty remains unclear. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO # CRD42021218748) is aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of PDT-induced oxidative stress in OPMDs METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched without restriction of language or year of publication. In addition, gray literature was searched and a manual search was performed. Two independent reviewers screened all the studies, assessing data extraction, risk of bias and certainty of evidence. A narrative synthesis was carried out. For the meta-analysis, random effects were considered to determine the prevalence of a total and a partial remission (PR) of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The certainty of evidence was explored using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative syntheses. A total of 880 patients were included (564 males; 218 females) with an age range between 24 and 89-years-old. The results showed the prevalence of the total and partial remissions respectively for the following OPMLs: actinic cheilitis (AC): 69.9% and 2.4%; oral leukoplakia (OL): 44% and 36.9%; oral verrucous hyperplasia (OVH): 98.5%; oral erythroleukoplakia (OEL): 92.1% and 7.9%. The prevalence of no remission of OL was 18.8%. CONCLUSIONS: PDT demonstrated significant results in clinical remission of OPMDs and most of the eligible studies have shown a total or a partial remission of the included lesions, but at a low or a very low certainty of evidence. Hence, further clinical studies with robust methodology are warranted to offer further validated data. Also, further evidence is required to understand further the mechanism of PDT-induced oxidative stress.

Efficiency of different protocols for oral hygiene combined with the use of chlorhexidine in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: In ICU patients on mechanical ventilation (MV), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common infection. However, such infection can be prevented through oral care protocols. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of the use of chlorhexidine and oral hygiene protocols (brushing and clinical procedures) with that of the use of chlorhexidine alone (intervention group and control group, respectively) in decreasing the prevalence of VAP in patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted to the ICU and requiring MV. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, studies were identified through searches of various national and international databases, as well as of the gray literature, and were selected in accordance with eligibility criteria. RESULTS: We evaluated six studies, involving a collective total of 1,276 patients. We classified the risk of bias as low in three studies, high in two, and uncertain in one; among the six risk domains evaluated, a low risk of bias was predominant in five. The results for random risks were similar in terms of direction and statistical magnitude-chi-square = 6.34; risk difference: -0.06 (95% CI: -0.11 to -0.02); I2 = 21%; p = 0.007. There was a decrease in the prevalence of VAP in the intervention group (n = 1,276) included in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Protocols that include the mechanical removal of oral biofilm in combination with the use of chlorhexidine can reduce the incidence of VAP among ICU patients requiring MV.

Efficiency of different protocols for oral hygiene combined with the use of chlorhexidine in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia / Eficiência de diferentes protocolos de higiene bucal associados ao uso de clorexidina na prevenção da pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica

ABSTRACT Objective: In ICU patients on mechanical ventilation (MV), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common infection. However, such infection can be prevented through oral care protocols. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of the use of chlorhexidine and oral hygiene protocols (brushing and clinical procedures) with that of the use of chlorhexidine alone (intervention group and control group, respectively) in decreasing the prevalence of VAP in patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted to the ICU and requiring MV. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, studies were identified through searches of various national and international databases, as well as of the gray literature, and were selected in accordance with eligibility criteria. Results: We evaluated six studies, involving a collective total of 1,276 patients. We classified the risk of bias as low in three studies, high in two, and uncertain in one; among the six risk domains evaluated, a low risk of bias was predominant in five. The results for random risks were similar in terms of direction and statistical magnitude-chi-square = 6.34; risk difference: −0.06 (95% CI: −0.11 to −0.02); I2 = 21%; p = 0.007. There was a decrease in the prevalence of VAP in the intervention group (n = 1,276) included in the meta-analysis. Conclusions: Protocols that include the mechanical removal of oral biofilm in combination with the use of chlorhexidine can reduce the incidence of VAP among ICU patients requiring MV.

RESUMO Objetivo: A pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) é uma infecção frequente em UTI. No entanto, essa infecção pode ser evitada através de protocolos de cuidados orais. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficiência de protocolos de higiene bucal (escovação e procedimentos clínicos) aliados ao uso de clorexidina (grupo intervenção) com a de protocolos que fazem uso somente de clorexidina (grupo controle) na diminuição da prevalência da PAVM em pacientes adultos (≥ 18 anos) internados em UTI sob VM. Métodos: Nesta revisão sistemática e meta-análise, várias bases de dados nacionais e internacionais foram utilizadas para a identificação e seleção de estudos e literatura cinza seguindo critérios de elegibilidade. Resultados: Foram incluídos seis estudos, envolvendo 1.276 pacientes. Após a classificação dos estudos, três apresentaram baixo risco de viés, dois apresentaram risco de viés alto, e o risco foi incerto em um; entre os seis domínios avaliados houve predomínio de baixo risco de viés em cinco deles. Os resultados para riscos aleatórios foram semelhantes em direção e magnitude estatística - qui-quadrado = 6,34; diferença de risco: −0,06 (IC95%: −0,11 a −0,02); I2 = 21%; p = 0,007. Houve diminuição na prevalência de PAVM no grupo intervenção (n = 1.276) incluídos na meta-análise. Conclusões: Protocolos que incluem a remoção mecânica do biofilme associada ao uso de clorexidina podem reduzir a incidência de PAVM em pacientes internados em UTI sob VM.