Hydration and nosocomial pneumonia: killing two birds with one stone (a toothbrush)

Clear and compelling evidence exists in the literature to suggest that nosocomial pneumonia is linked to poor oral care. In nursing homes and intensive care units, practicing good oral care has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia (Furr, Binkley, McCurren, & Carrico, 2004). In an oral care program implemented in a 29-bed rehabilitation unit, lung status was improved in 77% of patients who were admitted with aspiration pneumonia. Key components of the forces of magnetism (American Nurses Credentialing Center, n.d.) were used to implement the program, including autonomy and interdisciplinary relationships. The rehabilitation unit also applied the theory proposed by Higgins and Howell, which promotes using champions to make important process changes (1990). This article reviews the steps one rehabilitation unit took to implement an oral care plan.