The Effect of Two Different Oral Care Solutions on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Oral Health of Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Ventilator-associated Pneumonia and Oral Health
• Interventions: Drug: control group(chlorhexidine); Drug: Experimental Group(cetylpyridinium chloride)

• Registration Number: NCT06966817
• Lead Sponsor: Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Brief Summary

The aim of this observational study is to evaluate the effects of two different oral care solutions on ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral health in mechanically ventilated participants in the intensive care unit.

Did oral health improve in participants who used cetylpyridinium chloride? Did pneumonia develop? Did oral health improve in participants who used chlorhexidine chloride? Did pneumonia develop? The results will be evaluated by giving oral care to the participants with these solutions for 5 days with the same protocol.

Detailed Description

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pulmonary parenchymal infection in patients exposed to invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours and is a part of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired pneumonia. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most common intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infection among patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. When the VAP data of surgical and medical ICUs of thirty-six developing countries, including our country, for the years 2013-2018 were evaluated; the average VAP rate was determined as 11.47 per 1000 ventilator days. It contributes to the increase in hospital mortality, MV and ICU hospital stay. Therefore, it worsens the condition of the critically ill patient and increases the total hospitalization cost. It has become mandatory to take preventive measures to ensure control and reduce the incidence of VAP. Preventive strategies to prevent the development of pneumonia in ventilated patients are based on the implementation of infection control, i.e., avoiding prolonged ventilation with adequate sedation and weaning protocols, avoiding biofilm formation on the endotracheal tube and microaspiration of subglottic secretions, avoiding bacterial translocation from the stomach to the upper airway, and avoiding oropharyngeal colonization. Lack of effective oral hygiene results in the development of dental plaque deposits on the teeth within 72 hours, which can be reservoirs for potential respiratory pathogens. Bacteria present in plaque serve as a reservoir for potential pathogens that can enter the respiratory tract. Because of this potential for infection, oral hygiene is important in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Keeping a patient's mouth clean and disease-free (oral hygiene) can help prevent VAP. Mouthwashes have been recommended as a regular oral care because they can reduce costs and reduce plaque formation. The type, concentration, dose, and frequency of use of the rinse may also affect antibacterial efficacy. There remains uncertainty regarding the most effective protocols, including the types of personnel involved, frequency of oral care, whether antiseptics should be used, and if so, what type of antiseptic to use (e.g., chlorhexidine gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, povidone-iodine). Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends oral hygiene with 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) during the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, but there are no recommendations for its routine use in the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that has been shown to be effective in reducing dental plaque and preventing gingivitis. Cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% has been used as an alternative to reduce dental plaque and gingivitis in patients who develop mucosal irritation and stains due to CHX.

In light of all this information, oral care is one of the most important treatments for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. It supports the treatment of intensive care patients and can prevent respiratory tract infections. For this reason, it is important to determine the effectiveness of oral care solutions used in patients and their effects on ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of two different oral care solutions on ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral health of patients on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.

H0: There is no difference between the development of VAP and oral health of patients on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit where 0.25% chlorhexidine gluconate is used in oral care and the development of VAP and oral health of patients on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit where 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride is used in oral care.

H1: There is a difference between the development of VAP and oral health of patients on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit where 0.25% chlorhexidine gluconate is used in oral care and the development of VAP and oral health of patients on VAP and oral health of patients on oral care who 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride is used in oral care.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-05-15
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-04
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-13
• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-11
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-12
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-15
• Study Completion: 2025-08-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Being 18 years of age or older

• Requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours
• Not having a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia
• Having a Clinical Lung Infection Score (CPIS) <6 on the first day
• Not having a diagnosis of pneumonia or COVID
• Not having facial or oral trauma
• Being within the first 24 hours of the intubation process
• Not having a medical impediment to elevating the head of the bed 30o

Exclusion Criteria

• Not accepting to participate in the study
• Termination of MV support for less than 48 hours
• Being allergic to any of the solutions to be used in oral care
• Being diagnosed with immunodeficiency
• Having thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and oral aphthae, stomatitis, candidiasis, gingivitis
• Using immunosuppressive drugs

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
control group	control group(chlorhexidine)	Oral care for control group-1: First, the patient's teeth are brushed twice a day (06:00-18:00) with a small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoride/non-foaming toothpaste and sterile water. Then, the mouth is aspirated to remove secretions and residues. After brushing, the sponge stick is dipped in 0.25% chlorhexidine solution and the mouth is cleaned in a way that it is used only once for each section of the mouth. In addition, between 12:00-24:00, the sponge stick is dipped in 0.25% chlorhexidine solution and the mouth is cleaned in a way that it is used only once for each section of the mouth.
experimental group	Experimental Group(cetylpyridinium chloride)	Oral care for experimental group-2: First, the patient's teeth are brushed twice a day (06:00-18:00) with a small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoride/non-foaming toothpaste and sterile water. After brushing, the sponge swab is dipped into 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride solution and the mouth is cared for in a way that it can be used only once for each part of the mouth. In addition, between 12:00 and 24:00, the sponge swab is dipped into 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride solution and the mouth is cared for in a way that it can be used only once for each part of the mouth.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
EFFECTS OF TWO DIFFERENT ORAL CARE SOLUTIONS ON VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AND ORAL HEALTH OF PATIENTS CONNECTED TO MECHANICAL VENTILATORS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT	from registration until the end of the 5th day	The same person evaluates the patients' mouths every day at 07:00 with the oral hygiene oral assessment scale.; On the 1st, 3rd and 5th days, patients are evaluated with the clinical pulmonary infection score. After all these evaluations, the patient is diagnosed with pneumonia or not by the intensive care specialist.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Gulhane Training and Research Hospital; 🇹🇷 Ankara, Turkey