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Updated: Aug 17, 2025
Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Published on: June 28, 2018
Preventive oral hygiene and ventilator-associated pneumonia in paediatric intensive care unit
F S Ludovichetti1, A Zuccon1, P Positello1
1Department of Neurosciences - Dentistry Section, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
Insights
Improving oral hygiene in children may help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This review explores the link between oral care and VAP in pediatric patients, highlighting potential preventative strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Rising incidence of pneumonia, particularly nosocomial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated children post-COVID-19.
- Limited research on the correlation between poor oral hygiene and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in pediatric populations.
Approach:
- Systematic literature review utilizing PubMed, Medline, and Scopus databases.
- Keywords included 'oral care,' 'children,' 'neonates,' and 'ventilator-associated pneumonia' with Boolean operators.
Key Points:
- Oral hygiene interventions are crucial for mitigating bloodstream bacterial proliferation.
- Effective oral care bundles can significantly reduce the risk of developing VAP.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced oral hygiene practices are a vital component in preventing VAP in pediatric patients.
- Further research is warranted to establish definitive causal links and optimize oral care protocols for VAP prevention in children.
Aim:
Data indicate a tendency towards an increased incidence through the last decades of various forms of pneumonia. Among these, nosocomial pneumonia in patients who have been on mechanical ventilation support (increased after the Covid-19 pandemic) is a condition that must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid complications. Current literature lacks an in-depth analysis of the potential correlation between ventilator-associated pneumonia and poor oral hygiene, especially in children. The aim of this literature review is to investigate if improving oral hygiene could affect the onset of nosocomial pneumonia in children.
Methods:
A search was performed in Pubmed, Medline, and Scopus for the keywords: oral care, children, neonates, ventilator-associated pneumonia, combined with 'AND' or 'OR' Boolean Operators.
Conclusion:
The relevant papers retrieved in the scientific literature emphasised the importante of good oral care bundles to mitigate the bacteria proliferation in the bloodstream, and to prevent the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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