Comparison of effects of chlorhexidine mouthwash versus stop-snoring mouthwash in prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a prevalent infection occurs in intensive care unit (ICU) accompanied with increased complications and mortality. In this study, effects of chlorhexidine mouthwash versus herbal stop-snoring mouthwash on VAP among ICU admitted patients have been compared. Methods: 86 patients admitted at ICU were randomly divided to two equal groups including; group C treated with chlorhexidine mouthwash and group S treated with stop-snoring mouthwash. Patients of both groups were similarlytreated for three times a day (including amount, technique and times of mouth washing). Time of incidence and frequency of VAP were compared in two groups. Findings: 74.41 of group S and 62.79of group C presented VAP (P-value = 0.353). 22.22 of patients presented VAP in first-5-days and 77.77 after 5 days and in group S while 6.25 of patients of group C presented VAP in first-5-days and 93.75 after 5 days(P-value = 0.126). Conclusion: Time of VAP incidence or frequency of VAP was not different using chlorhexidine mouthwash versus herbal stop-snoring mouthwash for prevention of VAP. © 2018, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.