#01-04
"Effect of Daily Oral Hygiene Care on Oropharyngeal Colonization and Subsequent Development of Nosocomial Pneumonia in Intubated Patients"
The purpose of this study is to determine if a statistically significant difference exists between nosocomial pneumonia rates for intubated patients in critical care who receive daily oral hygiene care and those who do not receive any care. A one-group time series design will be employed for approximately 30 subjects intubated in the Critical Care Unit at Sentara Bayside Hospital. Secondary data will be obtained from Sentara Bayside on the monthly nosocomial pneumonia rates for one year prior to the experimental intervention. Then, for three months, daily oral hygiene care consisting of brushing the cheeks, teeth and intubated apparatus with a suctioning toothbrush using an FDA approved 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate antimicrobial agent will be performed on all intubated patients in the critical care unit. Secondary nosocomial pneumonia rates will then be compared with the experimental group's nosocomial pneumonia rates to determine effects of the daily oral hygiene care. Data will be analyzed at the .05 level of significance using Kruskal Wallis one-way analysis of variance and the twelve-month moving average trend.