A higiene bucal em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva

Abstract

The aim of this study was to highlight, through a review of the literature, the importance of the dentist in the multiprofessional team of an intensive care unit, emphasizing the necessity of an oral hygiene protocol, and this way help in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. In hospitalized patients, the oral microbiota may undergo changes and become more virulent. Pathogens of the oral cavity and oropharynx adhered to the dental biofilm may be to be associated with the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Oral care in patients from intensive care unit aims to promote oral health and reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and other systemic diseases which are related to colonization of pathogens in the oropharynx. Among the diseases that may present complications due to oral status are cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and chronic obstructive diseases. The aim of oral hygiene in the intensive care unit is to reduce the colonization of the oropharynx and dental biofilm, reducing the aspiration of colonized saliva. The presence of a qualified oral health team in the intensive care unit, and the use of chlorhexidine at 0.12% contribute to the reduction of the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. There is currently no universal protocol for oral hygiene of patients admitted to the intensive care unit, and additional studies are required to determine the most effective oral hygiene technique in intensive care unit patients.