Oral hygiene practices in Scottish intensive care units – a national survey

Kearns, R. and Booth, M. (2009) Oral hygiene practices in Scottish intensive care units – a national survey. Journal of Intensive Care Society, 10(2), pp. 155-157. (doi: 10.1177/175114370901000224)

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with prolonged intensive care (ICU) stay, increased mortality and costs. Although oral hygiene may help prevent VAP, there is little data about practice in ICU. Therefore a telephone survey of oral hygiene practice in Scottish ICUs was undertaken. All 24 respondents (100% of units) thought that providing oral hygiene care was a worthwhile use of nursing time in the ventilated ICU patient. Fifty-four percent of respondents recognised the importance of oral hygiene in the prevention VAP. Other benefits of oral care cited were maintenance of patient comfort and dignity, and of tooth, gum and oral mucosal health. Most ICUs also felt that further training would be beneficial. Oral hygiene is recognised as having an important role in patient comfort. There is still a lack of evidence concerning the place of oral hygiene care in preventing nosocomial infection in mechanically ventilated patients, as highlighted in the recent NICE guidelines.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kearns, Dr Rachel and Booth, Dr Malcolm
• Authors: Kearns, R., and Booth, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Intensive Care Society
• Publisher: The Intensive Care Society
• ISSN: 1751-1437
• Published Online: 01 April 2009