The oral care practices and needs of older adults in nursing homes: Assessment of carers and patients / Pratiques et besoins de soins bucco-dentaires en EHPAD : évaluation des soignants et des patients

Good oral health preservation in nursing homes is hampered by the lack of caregivers, who are often inadequately trained, which has an impact on patients' quality of life. The aim was to assess caregivers' practices and the objective and perceived oral care needs of patients in nursing homes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 15 and November 24, 2021, in three nursing homes in Mayenne (France). A self-administered questionnaire was used to identify oral care practices and caregivers' training needs. The care needs and oral health related quality of life of patients were assessed by a single dental surgeon using the OHAT and the GOHAI questionnaire. Assessments were done with 30.8 percent of caregivers, and 40.0 percent and 36.2 percent of patients for OHAT and GOHAI respectively. Oral cavity and prosthesis examinations were systematically carried out by 4.9 percent and 24.4 percent of caregivers respectively. Fifty percent of the nurses had never performed oral care. A need for practical training was expressed by 75.6 percent of the caregivers. The mean GOHAI and OHAT scores were 56.17 ± 5.69 and 6.01 ± 2.42. These scores were significantly correlated (rho=-0.34; p=0.002). Preventive oral care in nursing homes is necessary to maintain residents' quality of life. Efforts must be made to provide training for caregivers and to simplify oral care procedures for patients.

Le maintien d'une bonne santé orale en EHPAD se heurte au manque de soignants, de surcroît souvent insuffisamment formés, ce qui impacte la qualité de vie des patients. L'objectif était d'évaluer les pratiques des soignants et les besoins en soins oraux des patients objectifs et ressentis en EHPAD. Une enquête transversale a été réalisée du 15 septembre au 24 novembre 2021 dans 3 EHPADs de Mayenne. Un auto-questionnaire a été utilisé pour identifier les pratiques de soins et les besoins de formation des soignants. Les besoins de soins et la qualité de vie en lien avec la santé orale des patients ont été évalués par un seul chirurgien-dentiste à partir de la grille OHAT et du questionnaire GOHAI. Les évaluations ont concerné 30,8% des soignants ainsi que 40,0% et 36,2% des patients pour l'OHAT et le GOHAI. Les examens de la cavité orale et des prothèses dentaires étaient systématiquement réalisés par respectivement 4.9% et 24,4% des soignants. Les soins de bouche n'étaient jamais réalisés par 50,0% des infirmiers. Un besoin de formation pratique était exprimé par 75,6% des soignants. Les scores GOHAI et OHAT moyens étaient de 56,17 ± 5,69 et 6,01 ± 2,42. Ces scores étaient significativement corrélés (rho=-0,34 ; p=0.002). Les actions de prévention orale dans les EHPADs sont nécessaires pour maintenir la qualité de vie des résidents. Des efforts doivent être consentis pour la formation des soignants et la simplification du parcours de soins bucco-dentaires des patients.

On the need to create a new profession in France: The dental assistant specializing in advanced practices / À propos de la nécessité de créer un nouveau métier en France : l'assistant(e) dentaire en pratiques avancées

The law modernizing the French health care system sets out the legal framework for what can be called "advanced practice" for medical auxiliaries. This type of health care practice already exists in many countries. In France, we have chosen to deploy it within a team, starting with the nursing profession. Advanced practice has a dual objective: to improve access to care and the quality of patient care by reducing doctors' workloads in targeted pathologies. In addition, advanced practice encourages paramedical professionals to diversify and develop their skills to a high level. Among medical auxiliaries, dental assistants could benefit from this legal framework, in a country where access to primary care and oral health education is complicated, if not impossible in some "medical deserts." The role of these new health care professionals would therefore be to deliver preventive oral care (primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention) to promote and improve patients' oral health.

La loi de modernisation de notre système de santé pose le cadre juridique de ce que l'on peut appeler « la pratique avancée ¼ pour les auxiliaires médicaux. Cet exercice en santé existe déjà dans de nombreux pays. En France, le choix a été fait de le déployer au sein d'une équipe, en commençant par la profession d'infirmier. La pratique avancée vise un double objectif : améliorer l'accès aux soins ainsi que la qualité des parcours des patients en réduisant la charge de travail des médecins sur des pathologies ciblées. En outre, la pratique avancée favorise la diversification de l'exercice des professionnels paramédicaux et débouche sur le développement des compétences vers un haut niveau de maîtrise. Parmi les auxiliaires médicaux, les assistant(e)s dentaires pourraient bénéficier de ce cadre juridique, dans un pays où l'accès aux soins primaires et à l'éducation en santé orale est compliqué, voire impossible dans certains déserts médicaux. Ces nouveaux professionnels de santé auraient donc pour rôle de délivrer des soins bucco-dentaires préventifs (prévention primaire, prévention secondaire et tertiaire) afin de promouvoir et améliorer la santé bucco-dentaire des patients.

Consommation de soins dentaires préventifs en région Centre-Val de Loire : une étude rétrospective.

CONTEXT: The demography of dentist-surgeons in the Centre-Val de Loire region is far inferior to the national average and characterized by many territorial inequalities of health. The aim of this study is to provide details concerning the dental hygienic care-seeking consumption habits in this region based on one dental care treatment, dental scaling, which allows for the mechanical elimination of dental plaque in order to prevent periodontal diseases. METHOD: This retrospective study is based on data from several databases of the National Health Insurance Cross-Schemes Information System (Sniiram) for the year 2016, analyzed by the Statistical Institute of Liberal Health Professionals. RESULTS: It can be observed that less scaling treatments have been sought out in this region in comparison with metropolitan France and certain territories which also face difficulties in terms of care treatment offers and scaling treatment inferior to the regional average. Although the care offer is unequally distributed, it seems to have little influence on the number of treatment acts consumed per patient and notably scaling treatments. Inversely, indicators of wealth or poverty do have an impact on treatment consumption HBJD001. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the consumption of scaling treatment is independent from the dental care offers, but linked to the social gradient of the population. It points to the deficit in the consumption of this treatment in comparison to metropolitan France. The potential role of the HBJD001 treatment as a marker of the trajectory of preventive health care as well as the necessity of the adjustment of the zones determined by the ARS are put forward.

Efficacy of ceftolozane in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute pneumonia: in vivo antimicrobial activity and impact on host inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the activity of ceftolozane, a novel oxyimino-cephalosporin, in comparison with ceftazidime and piperacillin/tazobactam against a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain using a murine model of pneumonia. METHODS: Quantitative bacteriology, survival, histological examination, myeloperoxidase activity, proinflammatory cytokine levels in lungs and endothelial permeability were evaluated to determine the effects of ceftolozane and comparators on P. aeruginosa-induced pneumonia. RESULTS: After 48 h of treatment, ceftolozane reduced the bacterial load by 3-4 log(10) cfu/g of lung. Systemic dissemination of the pulmonary infection and development of lung damage were inhibited in all ß-lactam-treated animals. P. aeruginosa-induced pneumonia led to elevated concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 in the lungs. While the levels of proinflammatory cytokines decreased following ceftazidime and piperacillin/tazobactam therapy, ceftolozane exhibited increased concentrations of IL-1ß and MIP-2 after 24 h of infection, resulted in significantly increased levels of recruited neutrophils within the infected lung without increasing lung endothelial permeability. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly support ceftolozane as an effective option for the treatment of severe P. aeruginosa respiratory infections by improving the early pulmonary inflammatory response without impairing 48 h post-infection homeostasis.

Comparison of ceftaroline fosamil, daptomycin and tigecycline in an experimental rabbit endocarditis model caused by methicillin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant and glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the in vivo activities of the new antistaphylococcal drugs ceftaroline fosamil, daptomycin and tigecycline at projected human therapeutic doses against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) strains in a rabbit model of endocarditis. METHODS: The efficacy of therapeutic regimens in our model was evaluated following 4 days of treatment by determining colony counts of infected vegetations. Emergence of resistant variants during therapy was assessed. RESULTS: Using this model of infective endocarditis, ceftaroline fosamil and daptomycin demonstrated high bactericidal in vivo activity (reduction of >5 log(10) cfu/g of vegetation) after a 4 day treatment against MSSA, MRSA and GISA strains. Both drugs were more efficacious than tigecycline, which showed moderate activity but failed to exhibit a bactericidal effect. Ceftaroline was superior to daptomycin in terms of sterilization of the vegetations. Emergence of resistant variants during daptomycin therapy was observed in two animals (one in the MSSA group and one in the MRSA group) but was not observed in ceftaroline- or tigecycline-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: The novel ß-lactam agent ceftaroline fosamil was the most active bactericidal drug in this model and is a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of severe S. aureus infections, including those caused by MRSA and GISA strains.

A qualitative study on experiences of persons with schizophrenia in oral-health-related quality of life.

Our study aimed to explore the views and experiences in oral health and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of persons with schizophrenia (PWS) in order to expand the understanding of the factors that either limit or facilitate their healthcare pathway, which can ultimately optimize their oral health and/or OHRQoL. A qualitative study was conducted in France in the Côte d'Or department (530 000 in habitants) centered on PWS's perceived meanings regarding oral health or OHRQoL, and semi-structured individual interviews were used. A conventional content analysis approach was chosen in order to highlight unrevealed themes. A sample of 20 PWS (12 males; 8 females) with a median age was 45.8 (± 9.5) were recruited to assess views and experiences regarding OHRQoL, which were focused on three dimensions: an individual dimension related to experience of "oral symptoms", a second dimension related to experience of "stress and its management", and a third related to "Autonomy dimension in oral health". We showed that PWS clearly expressed their mental representations of oral health and OHRQoL. This study supports that PWS were able to define their needs and had the ability to discuss their oral health and OHRQoL. These finding could be used to support specific interventions for this population to better manage the negative impact of antipsychotics and help them to consult dentists on a regular basis.

Evidence and Therapeutic Perspectives in the Relationship between the Oral Microbiome and Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

This review aims to clarify the nature of the link between Alzheimer's disease and the oral microbiome on an epidemiological and pathophysiological level, as well as to highlight new therapeutic perspectives that contribute to the management of this disease. We performed a systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews checklist, from January 2000 to July 2021. The terms "plaque," "saliva," and "mouth" were associated with the search term "oral diseases" and used in combination with the Boolean operator "AND"/"OR". We included experimental or clinical studies and excluded conferences, abstracts, reviews, and editorials. A total of 27 articles were selected. Evidence for the impact of the oral microbiome on the pathophysiological and immunoinflammatory mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease is accumulating. The impact of the oral microbiome on the development of AD opens the door to complementary therapies such as phototherapy and/or the use of prebiotic compounds and probiotic strains for global or targeted modulation of the oral microbiome in order to have a favourable influence on the evolution of this pathology in the future.

Pre and Probiotics Involved in the Modulation of Oral Bacterial Species: New Therapeutic Leads in Mental Disorders?

This systematic review aims to identify probiotics and prebiotics for modulating oral bacterial species associated with mental disorders. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline, we search the electronic MEDLINE database published till January 2021 to identify the studies on probiotics and/or prebiotics for preventing and treating major oral dysbiosis that provokes mental disorders. The outcome of the search produces 374 records. After excluding non-relevant studies, 38 papers were included in the present review. While many studies suggest the potential effects of the oral microbiota on the biochemical signalling events between the oral microbiota and central nervous system, our review highlights the limited development concerning the use of prebiotics and/or probiotics in modulating oral dysbiosis potentially involved in the development of mental disorders. However, the collected studies confirm prebiotics and/or probiotics interest for a global or targeted modulation of the oral microbiome in preventing or treating mental disorders. These outcomes also offer exciting prospects for improving the oral health of people with mental disorders in the future.

Another Look at the Contribution of Oral Microbiota to the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review.

Although autoimmunity contributes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), several lines of evidence challenge the dogma that it is mainly an autoimmune disorder. As RA-associated human leukocyte antigens shape microbiomes and increase the risk of dysbiosis in mucosae, RA might rather be induced by epigenetic changes in long-lived synovial presenting cells, stressed by excessive translocations into joints of bacteria from the poorly cultivable gut, lung, or oral microbiota (in the same way as more pathogenic bacteria can lead to "reactive arthritis"). This narrative review (i) lists evidence supporting this scenario, including the identification of DNA from oral and gut microbiota in the RA synovium (but in also healthy synovia), and the possibility of translocation through blood, from mucosae to joints, of microbiota, either directly from the oral cavity or from the gut, following an increase of gut permeability worsened by migration within the gut of oral bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis; (ii) suggests other methodologies for future works other than cross-sectional studies of periodontal microbiota in cohorts of patients with RA versus controls, namely, longitudinal studies of oral, gut, blood, and synovial microbiota combined with transcriptomic analyses of immune cells in individual patients at risk of RA, and in overt RA, before, during, and following flares of RA.

Psychometric Properties of the Schizophrenia Oral Health Profile: Preliminary Results.

The Schizophrenia Oral Health Profile questionnaire was developed to assess the oral health-related quality of life among individuals with schizophrenia based on their perceptions rather than from caregivers. A 5-point Likert scale was used to self-report on 42 items. In the present study, different analyses were conducted to determine the dimensional structure of the final scale: (1) inter-item correlation analysis and Cronbach's α coefficient, (2) Rasch model analysis, (3) exploratory factor analysis and (4) confirmatory factor analysis. The final version of the Schizophrenia Oral Health Profile questionnaire consisted of 20 items and an internal structure composed of three dimensions: (1) emotions related to oral health, (2) oral pain and discomfort and (3) self-image, others' views and the need for care. We showed that the difficulty and discrimination indices of each of the 20 selected items were acceptable according to the Rasch model, as well as their inter-item and inter-score correlations (α = 0.875). The psychometric study of the Schizophrenia Oral Health Profile questionnaire is still in progress to investigate reproducibility, sensitivity to change and external structure.

Efficacy of the new cephalosporin ceftaroline in the treatment of experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus acute osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the activity of a new cephalosporin, ceftaroline, in comparison with other antistaphylococcal drugs (linezolid and vancomycin) at projected human therapeutic doses against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) strains. METHODS: Using a rabbit experimental model of acute osteomyelitis, efficacy was assessed following 4 days of treatment by colony counts of infected bone tissues (joint fluid, femoral bone marrow and bone). RESULTS: Although vancomycin remains the standard treatment for MRSA osteomyelitis, it was ineffective against the MRSA strain and poorly active against GISA infections in this model. Ceftaroline and linezolid demonstrated significant activity in bone marrow and bone, and were significantly better than vancomycin treatment. However, ceftaroline was the only drug to exhibit significant activity against MRSA in infected joint fluid. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports ceftaroline as a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of severe MRSA infections, including osteomyelitis.

Periodontal pockets: A potential reservoir for SARS-CoV-2?

Periodontal pockets are the major clinical manifestation of Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory oral disease affecting the teeth-supporting tissues and has high prevalence in the adult population. Periodontal pockets are ideal environments for subgingival bacterial biofilms, that interact with the supragingival oral cavity, mucosal tissues of the pocket and a peripheral circulatory system. Periodontal pockets have been found to harbor viral species such as the Herpes simplex viruses' family. Recently, the SARS-CoV-2 has gained major interest of the scientific/medical community as it caused a global pandemic (Covid-19) and paralyzed the globe with high figures of infected people worldwide. This virus behavior is still partially understood, and by analyzing some of its features we hypothesized that periodontal pocket could be a favorable anatomical niche for the virus and thus acting as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2.

Did the Brain and Oral Microbiota Talk to Each Other? A Review of the Literature.

This systematic review aims to investigate the role of the oral microbiome in the pathophysiology of mental health disorders and to appraise the methodological quality of research of the oral-brain axis which is a growing interest area. The PRISMA guideline was adopted, to carry out an electronic search through the MEDLINE database, to identify studies that have explored the role of the oral microbiome in the pathophysiology of mental health disorders published from 2000 up to June 2020. The search resulted in 140 records; after exclusions, a total of 22 papers were included in the present review. In accordance with the role of the oral microbiome in the pathophysiology of mental disorders, four mental disorders were identified: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and cognitive disorders; autism spectrum disorder; Down's syndrome and mental retardation; and Bipolar disorders. Studies argue for correlations between oral microbiota and Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorders, Down's syndrome, and bipolar disorders. This field is still under-studied, and studies are needed to clarify the biological links and interconnections between the oral microbiota and the pathophysiology of all mental health disorders. Researchers should focus their efforts to develop research on the oral-brain axis in the future.

Anticholinergic Drugs and Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore, in a sample population of people with schizophrenia (PWS), the role of the anticholinergic burden on the perception of oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL) in France. METHODS: A pilot study was performed between March 2014 and January 2016. PWS were recruited from a population in Côte d'Or department in France. Dental status was investigated using the Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, the Xerostomia Index (XI), and the Global Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) for OHrQoL. The anticholinergic impregnation score was recorded using the anticholinergic impregnation scale (AIS). RESULTS: A sample of 62 people was selected. The DMFT score was 16.5± 8.7, the XI score was 22.9±7.8, the GOHAI score was 43.0±8.8, and the AIS score was 3.1±2.8. In total, 169 drugs were prescribed to the people of our sample, and 114 different anticholinergic drugs were observed. The most frequently used anticholinergic drugs (51.40%), in the study had a low antimuscarinic potency (1 point according to AIS scale). The multiple linear regression model showed that the OHrQoL scores were significantly lower when the DMFT scores, XI score, and anticholinergic scores were high. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study highlighted the potential role of the anticholinergic burden on the OHrQoL of PWS. A study with a validated specific scale for the OHrQoL and a standard anticholinergic burden scale should be conducted to clarify the role of anticholinergic drugs on the OHrQoL for PWS.

Oral health treatment habits of people with schizophrenia in France: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the differences between persons with schizophrenia (PWS) and general population in France in terms of oral health treatment (tooth scaling, dental treatment and tooth extraction) and the factors associated with these differences. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included PWS identified from a representative sample of 1/97th of the French population (general sample of beneficiaries). PWS were identified from 2014 data by an algorithm that included: F2 diagnostic codes in the register of long-term diseases in 2014 AND {(at least three deliveries of antipsychotics in 2014) OR (F20 diagnostic codes as a main or associated diagnosis in hospital discharge abstracts in 2012 or 2013 (hospital data for medicine, surgery and obstetrics)}. Follow-up dental care was explored for all people over a period of 3 years (2014 to 2017). RESULTS: In 2014, 580,219 persons older than 15 years were identified from the 96 metropolitan departments in France; 2,213 were PWS (0.4%). Fewer PWS were found along a diagonal line from north-east to south-west France, and the highest numbers were located in urban departments. PWS were more often male (58.6% vs 48.7%, p<0.001). They were less likely to have had tooth scaling but more likely to have undergone a dental extraction. In one third of departments, more than 50% of PWS had at least one tooth scaling over a three-year period; the rate of dental extraction in these departments ranged from 6 to 23%. Then, a quarter of the departments in which 40 to 100% of PWS had had at least one dental extraction (2/8) presented a rate of tooth scaling ranging from 0 to 28% over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the general population, PWS were less likely to have had tooth scaling and dental treatment but more likely to have undergone dental extraction.

A qualitative study on experiences of persons with schizophrenia in oral-health-related quality of life

Abstract Our study aimed to explore the views and experiences in oral health and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of persons with schizophrenia (PWS) in order to expand the understanding of the factors that either limit or facilitate their healthcare pathway, which can ultimately optimize their oral health and/or OHRQoL. A qualitative study was conducted in France in the Côte d'Or department (530 000 in habitants) centered on PWS's perceived meanings regarding oral health or OHRQoL, and semi-structured individual interviews were used. A conventional content analysis approach was chosen in order to highlight unrevealed themes. A sample of 20 PWS (12 males; 8 females) with a median age was 45.8 (± 9.5) were recruited to assess views and experiences regarding OHRQoL, which were focused on three dimensions: an individual dimension related to experience of "oral symptoms", a second dimension related to experience of "stress and its management", and a third related to "Autonomy dimension in oral health". We showed that PWS clearly expressed their mental representations of oral health and OHRQoL. This study supports that PWS were able to define their needs and had the ability to discuss their oral health and OHRQoL. These finding could be used to support specific interventions for this population to better manage the negative impact of antipsychotics and help them to consult dentists on a regular basis.

In vitro characterization of calcium phosphate biomaterial loaded with linezolid for osseous bone defect implantation.

Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which shows significant resistance to methicillin. One therapeutic treatment would be to insert a bone substitute loaded to an antibiotic, which would enable the bone to be filled while the illness is being treated. Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic with a large spectrum of action. It is effective against most Gram-positive bacteria and displays a specific mode of action. The aim of this work was to study the association of linezolid with a calcium phosphate-deficient apatite matrix. Granules containing 10% and 50% linezolid were prepared by wet granulation and characterized. Porosity analyses performed by mercury porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy revealed that grain porosity with 50% linezolid was higher than that of the grains containing 10% linezolid. NMR analyses showed no change in structure of linezolid when linked to calcium-deficient apatite. These results were confirmed by studying the antibacterial activity of linezolid, which remained proportional to the quantity of loaded linezolid, proving that the antibiotic released was active. The in vitro release time varied from 9 days for granules containing 10% linezolid to 26 days for granules containing 50% linezolid.

pH-controlled delivery of gentamicin sulfate from orthopedic devices preventing nosocomial infections.

Since the beginning of the 1970s, controlled release technology has witnessed great advancement, and motivated numerous researchers in materials science. These systems overcome the drawbacks of traditional drug dosage form, and offer more effective and favorable methods to optimize drug delivery in optimum dose to specific sites or to prolong delivery duration. This paper deals with the synthesis of pH-controlled drug delivery systems for bone implant, allowing the local release of gentamicin sulfate (GS), an antibiotic commonly used to prevent infections during orthopedic surgeries. We present a biomaterial synthesis allowing the controlled release of GS at the site of surgical implantation (over an adjustable period of time). In our design, spherical nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized by the chosen antibiotic (Gentamicin sulfate, GS), are chemically anchored to the biomaterial surface. A cleavage reaction of the chemical bond between NPs and GS, effected by the contact of material with a solution presenting an acidic pH (in the case of infection, there is a decrease of the physiological medium pH), induces controlled release of the bioactive molecule in its native form. In this paper, we discuss the synthesis of a bioactive titanium based biomaterial in general, and the grafting of the NPs onto the titanium surfaces in particular. We have paid particular attention to the characterization of the drug surface density and the release kinetic of the active molecule as a function of the pH. In vitro bacterial growth inhibition tests after GS delivery at acidic pH (with Staphylococcus aureus) have also been carried out in order to prove the efficiency of such biomaterials.