ORAL COLONIZATION BY HOSPITAL-ASSOCIATED BACTERIAL PATHOGENS AMONG INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS: ASSOCIATION WITH...

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• The oral cavity can harbor hospital-associated bacterial pathogens in critically ill patients.
• Prevalence and clinical factors of oral colonization are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of oral colonization by hospital-associated pathogens in ICU patients.
• To identify clinical factors associated with oral colonization, particularly ventilatory support.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 120 adult ICU patients.
• Oral samples from the dorsal tongue analyzed via culture-based microbiology.
• Logistic regression used to assess factors associated with oral colonization.

Main Results:

• Oral colonization by hospital pathogens was found in 64.2% of patients.
• Colonization prevalence increased with ventilatory support invasiveness (42.5% to 90.0%).
• Tracheostomy (adjusted OR, 7.77) and longer ICU stays were associated with colonization.

Conclusions:

• Oral colonization by hospital pathogens is highly prevalent in ICUs, increasing with ventilatory support invasiveness.
• Tracheostomy is an independent risk factor for oral colonization.
• Systematic oral assessment and evidence-based oral care are crucial for infection prevention strategies.