Oral and Tracheal Cultures in Pediatric ICU Patients Compared to Healthy Children

The oral cavity has natural flora of microbiology that may be associated with the development of dental decay. Another possible problem arising from this flora is the migration of the bacteria into the trachea causing pulmonary infections such as trachietis or pneumonia. The risk of developing a pulmonary infection appears to be increased in patients who have been intubated for a period of time (days) such as those patients ventilated in the intensive care unit (ICU). It has also been shown that in patients in the ICU the nature of the oral flora changes over time to include bacteria that are more commonly associated with the nosocomial pneumonia, ventilator associated pneumonia. We have previous demonstrated in a small pilot study (CYIRB2779) that the changes in the oral flora in children intubated in the ICU was similar to those bacteria grown from tracheal cultures ordered by the intensivist. Patients intubated in the ICU maybe at risk of decreased salivary flow, sedated and unable to clear secretions and are reliant on the bedside nurse to maintain adequate oral hygiene. Most ICU's have guidelines and policies to ensure that oral hygiene is appropriately cared for. They are also at risk for changes in the oral flora due to concomitant broad-spectrum antibiotic use that is common in the initial 48 hours after admission with respiratory failure.

The second are of interest is to determine whether children who are very sick and require intubation and ventilation support have different bugs growing in their mouth that may predispose them to future infection whilst in the ICU.