Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Respiratory infection: how important is oral health?
Philippe Mojon1, Jean Bourbeau
1McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. philippe.mojon@mcgill.ca
Abstract:
The oral cavity has long been considered a potential reservoir for respiratory pathogens. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the relation between oral flora and respiratory infection among "at-risk" patients such as patients from intensive care units or frail older adults. The mechanisms of infection could be colonization of the oral biofilm by respiratory pathogens followed by aspiration. More recent hypotheses relate to the presence in saliva of enzymes and cytokines associated with oral pathogens, and that could modulate the colonization of the respiratory tract or promote infection by respiratory pathogens. It is the aim of this paper to review the recent literature on this topic.
Related Concept Videos
Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and key...
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
The Oral Microbiota
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

