Page 101 - Intersurgical Product Catalogue Edition14

Oral Care
101

Reduce VAP with Oral Care

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) causes prolonged intubation and a prolonged stay in intensive care units (ICU) with the

associated costs. It is also a serious cause of mortality in compromised patients.

A combination of oral care treatments (brushing and suctioning) in a proper oral care protocol means care providers can eficiently
prevent oropharyngeal bacterial bioilm build-up. This in turn leads to a reduction of VAP and aspiration pneumonias and greatly
reduces associated treatment costs.
1.2.3.

VAP Fact 1: VAP occurs in 9–25% of all patients in ICU

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

VAP Fact 3:
VAP mortality rate is approximately 10–40%
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Attachment
Initial Secondary Mature bioilm
colonization
colonization

Tooth Bacterial
Extracellular Fluid
Dental plaque is a bioilm made up from bacteria and their excretions,
surface
microcolonies slime layer channels
sitting mainly at the gum line and between teeth.

Bioilm is sitting mainly at the
gum line and between teeth

The bioilm will develop freshly after each intervention and will cover the
complete tooth surface in only two hours. The bioilm protects pathogenic
bacteria such as MRSA and Klebsiella, which are common problems

in many intensive care units. Bioilm must be broken up prior to the
application of antibacterial agents.

Trachea ET Tube Cuff AIR/Sputum/
Bacteria

From the oropharynx saliva, mucous and bioilm build-up move to 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
and require treatment with antibiotics.

Protocols and Assessment Guides
Supporting videos

As patients have quite different For correct set-up and
oropharyngeal conditions, which connection of the Intersurgical

may change quickly during their Oral Care products, please
hospital stay, the status of the view the appropriate video.

oropharynx needs to be assessed
as a daily routine. We have

created an assessment guide
which can be downloaded to help
start the process.

Learn more
about Oral care
www.intersurgical.com/info/oralcare

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. 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.
3. L. Frampton: Preventig HCAI on the intensive care unit, The Clinal Services Journal, March 2014.

info@intersurgical.com • www.intersurgical.com