• Oral Care

Effective oral care is a vital component of patient management in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Critically ill and ventilated patients are at increased risk of oral health complications, bacterial colonisation, and healthcare-associated infections. A structured oral care regimen can help maintain oral hygiene, supports patient comfort, and contributes to overall clinical care.

Our OroCare™ range is designed to support healthcare professionals deliver consistent, high-quality care while meeting the unique needs of critically ill patients.

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  • Oral Care

Reduce VAP with Oral Care

Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) causes prolonged intubation and a prolonged stay in ICU with the associated costs. It is also a serious cause of mortality in compromised patients.2

A combination of oral care treatments (brushing and suctioning) as part of a structured oral care protocol allows care providers to efficiently prevent build up of oropharyngeal plaque and biofilm. This in turn can lead to a reduction of VAP and aspiration pneumonia and greatly reduces associated treatment costs.1, 3, 4

Watch the video at the bottom of this page to see how VAP develops and how oral care may help to prevent this.

VAP 1

VAP Fact 1:
VAP occurs in 10-20% of all patients in ICU.1

Dental plaque is a biofilm made up predominantly of bacteria, sitting mainly at the gum line and between teeth.5, 6

VAp 2

VAP Fact 2:
Each case of VAP costs the hospital $30,000-$40,000.3

Fresh plaque will develop after each intervention and will cover the tooth surface within hours. The biofilm protects bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are common oral microbes.5, 7 Biofilm must be broken up prior to the application of antibacterial agents.

VAP 3

VAP Fact 3:
VAP leads to increased mortality rate and length of ICU stay.8

From the oropharynx saliva, mucous and bacteria accumulate at the ET tube cuff and may be aspirated into the lungs, as the cuff seal will never be 100%. When aspirated into the lungs, these bacteria may cause VAP.9, 10

OroCare™ Product Range

Our comprehensive oral care range offers a selection of products designed to support optimal oral health and hygiene includes cleaning tools, daily protocol kits, single use treatment packs and accessories.  See below for further details about the range and visit our Oral Care product page to view all specific products available.

Cleaning tools

For the most effective removal of plaque and biofilms regular mechanical tooth brushing should be carried out. We offer a range of toothbrushes with soft bristles and cleaning implements for both adult and paediatric patients. These have been designed with small brush heads which facilitate access to the oral cavity.4

Daily protocol kits

In order to help in the introduction of an oral care protocol we have day kits offering a single use solution straight from the pack.

Single use treatment packs

For situations where full daily kits are not suitable, we offer a variety of single use treatment packs.

Accessories

To complement the range we offer a range of accessories, to assist in an effective oral care programme.
Note: Not all products are available in all markets, please contact your local office for details.
 

References:

  1. R. Garcia, L. Jendresky, L. Colbert, A. Bailey, M. Zaman et M. Majumder, Reducing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Through Advanced Oral-Dental Care: A 48-Month Study, AJCC, July 2009.
  2. Ladbrook E, Khaw D, Bouchoucha S, Hutchinson A. A systematic scoping review of the cost-impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) intervention bundles in intensive care. Am J Infect Control. 2021 Jul;49(7):928-936. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.11.027. Epub 2020 Dec 7. PMID: 33301781.
  3. J. Rello, D. Ollendorf, G. Oster, M. Vera-Llonch, L. Bellm, R. Redman, M. Kollef: Epidemiology and outcomes of ventilator-associated-pneumonia in a large US database, Chest, December 2002.
  4. Ehrenzeller S, Klompas M. Association Between Daily Toothbrushing and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2024 Feb 1;184(2):131-142.doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.6638. PMID: 38109100; PMCID: PMC10728803.
  5. Hellyer TP, Ewan V, Wilson P, Simpson AJ. The Intensive Care Society recommended bundle of interventions for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. J Intensive Care Soc. 2016Aug;17(3):238-243. doi: 10.1177/1751143716644461. Epub 2016 Apr 20. PMID: 28979497; PMCID: PMC5606527.
  6. Nield-Gehrig, J.S. and Willmann, D.E., 2005. Dental plaque biofilms. Journal of Practical Hygiene, 14(16), pp.1-6.
  7. Marsh, P.D. Dental plaque as a biofilm and a microbial community – implications for health and disease. BMC Oral Health 6 (Suppl 1), S14 (2006).
  8. Jakubovics, N.S., Goodman, S.D., Mashburn‐Warren, L., Stafford, G.P. and Cieplik, F., 2021. The dental plaque biofilm matrix. Periodontology 2000, 86(1), pp.32-56.
  9. Rathbun, K.P., Bourgault, A.M. and Sole, M.L., 2022. Oral microbes in hospital-acquired pneumonia: practice and research implications. Critical care nurse, 42(3), pp.47-54.
  10. Paju S, Scannapieco FA. Oral biofilms, periodontitis, and pulmonary infections. Oral Dis. 2007 Nov;13(6):508-12.
  11. Klompas M, Branson R, Cawcutt K, Crist M, Eichenwald EC, Greene LR, Lee G, Maragakis LL, Powell K, Priebe GP, Speck K, Yokoe DS, Berenholtz SM. Strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated events, and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 Jun;43(6):687-713.

For further evidence, please visit our Oral Care product page.

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Related documents

Download PDF file OroCare™ - The complete programme for oral hygiene information sheet (Issue 9.1)
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