Hospital-acquired pneumonia is a lung infection that develops at least 48 hours after admission. NV-HAP affects patients not on mechanical ventilation and often results from fluids from the mouth or throat entering the lungs, said Brett Mitchell, lead author of the study from Avondale University. The programme involved over 8,000 patients across Australian hospitals.
Participants were given a toothbrush, toothpaste, educational materials, and access to online resources. Hospital staff received training and practical support to improve oral care. 5 times per day.
41. "These infections are thought to arise largely from a patient's own microbiota rather than person-to-person transmission. Improving oral hygiene helps reduce these pathogens in the mouth, potentially lowering the risk of subsequent infection," Mitchell said.
Hospital-associated respiratory pathogens are more frequently detected in patients unable to clear oral secretions. Prolonged hospitalisation leads to significant deterioration in patients' dental health. "One of the most encouraging findings from this study was the scale of improvement we were able to achieve," Mitchell added.
"Our study now provides robust evidence from a hospital setting.