Oral Care and Gram-negative Pathogen in Children

Oral Care and Oropharyngeal and Tracheal Colonization by Gram-negative Pathogens in Children

Critical care nursing interventions related to oral care can reduce the microorganisms in the oropharynx available for translocation to other sites. THis is a randomized, controlled and double blinded study performed in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from a Brazilian university hospital which objectives were to analyze 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate influence on Gram-negative pathogens colonization of oropharyngeal and tracheal secretions of mechanically ventilated children.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All the PICU children during 24 months of study were selected for participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• newborns, those that fulfilled the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for pneumonia in infants and children at the time of PICU admission, PICU LOS less than 48 hours, presence of tracheostomy and those that declined to participate.