A Survey of Oral Care Practices in South African Intensive Care Units (Report‪)‬

Traditionally, oral care has been a low-priority intervention in intensive care units (ICUs) and has been regarded by the ICU team as a comfort measure for patients. (1-3) Recent research, however, has highlighted the importance of oral care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). (4,5) VAP is the second most common nosocomial infection in the ICU, (6) affecting approximately 27% of ICU patients. (7) VAP is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, (8) longer ICU and hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. (9) The most important focus of oral care is plaque control in the oral cavity. Oral care practices in the ICU vary widely, (4) with some being more effective than others in controlling plaque. The two most effective practices are tooth brushing (if correctly done) and the use of chlorhexidine (CHD), a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent. (10) Foam/gauze swabs moistened with either mouthwash or water are still frequently used in practice, (2,11) even though they have been found to be ineffective for plaque removal. (12)