Nosocomial Infection

It has been repeatedly stated that oral care is important in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Endotracheal intubation predisposes patients to developing VAP. The tube acts as a conduit from the mouth to the lungs – a perfect track for bacteria to descend upon. Khezeri, et al. (2014) suggest that “the presence of an endotracheal tube (ETT) inhibits normal coughing, normal swallowing, and the protection of the trachea contact by epiglottis closure.” In addition, an endotracheal tube keeps the patients mouth open – leading to dryness. Bacteria are not washed away by saliva. Also, Landgraf, et al. (2017) mention that the presence of an endotracheal tube in the mouth causes “changes in the oral epithelium” which “might indicate risk for infection in intensive care patients

As a nurse in a skilled nursing facility, oral hygiene care is very important, but the importance significantly increases when our patients are functionally dependent or cognitively impaired. These patients are unable to perform this task and depend on nurses to provide daily care. Nurses need to pay close attention for potential problems. They will need to perform assessments, develop oral care plans, and identify preventions and strategies to eliminate any potential problems. Poor oral health has been linked to serious systemic illnesses including diabetes mellitus, stroke, hypertension, myocardial infarction and aspiration pneumonia (Dyck et al., 2012). Patients who suffer from a lack of oral care can have a dramatic impact to their

In clinical experience, it is seen that many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are on mechanical ventilation. These patients range from having head trauma, heart surgery and respiratory problems yet there is no clear, concise systematic standard oral care procedures noted on the different floors in the hospital. Oral care is a basic nursing care activity that can provide relief, comfort and prevention of microbial growth yet is given low priority when compared to other critical practices in critically ill patients. The Center for Disease Control reveals that Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common nosocomial infection that affects approximately 27% of critically ill patients (Koeman, Van der Ven & Hak,

Research has shown that staff training in oral hygiene and the use of an individualised Oral Hygiene Care Plan is beneficial to the resident and also the nurse and will allow appropriate care (National Guideline Clearing house [NGC], 2003).

Infection control is a central concept to every practice of health care providers. Its main objective is to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases from both patients and health personnel (Martin et al., 2010). In dental clinic, infection control is a continuous concern for its professionals. They have to contact patients routinely and be exposed to their blood, saliva, dental plaque and pus that may contain infectious pathogens. It is important for the dental professionals to treat these fluids as if they are infectious and special precautions must be taken to handle them. In this essay, I will highlight the scope of infection control practices in dental clinics and the ways through which infectious microorganisms are transmitted

Oral care aims to supply an adequate hygiene level, which leads to reduce colonisation of dental plaque and oropharynx and to reduce the aspiration of contaminated secretions into the lower airway (Feider et al. 2010). Research has demonstrated that colonisation of the airway and aspiration of colonised saliva are the two main pathogenic causes of VAP (Adib-Hajbaghery et al. 2011). Other cause is the production of a biofilm along the endotracheal tube (ETT) which contains large quantities of microbes that could be spread into the lungs by ventilator-induced breaths (Keyt et al. 2014; Palomar et al. 2010). Additionally, instilling saline into the ETT, suctioning secretions, repositioning the ETT or coughing, could dislodge the biofilm into the airway and increase the risk of VAP (Moore. 2003; Morehead and Pinto. 2002).

The patient was keen to get her oral hygiene up to a good standard and prevent any

Oral hygiene is very important for patients to perform daily based on their home routine or norm to prevent hospital acquire pneumonia (HAP). Several study have been done with the determination that oral care can prevent HAP. The hypothesis will be to talk with the nursing staff, educate them on the importance of oral hygiene and share position determination from previous study on the topic.The aim of the study is to simply examine the effect of nursing influence on patient improving oral care while admitted. Patients in the control group will be provided oral care kit and educated on the importance of oral hygiene. Patients in the experimental group will received reminder by the nursing staff to perform oral hygiene base on their routine prior to the hospital after both group have answer their oral care routine prior to admissions. Patients will be followed a month after discharge with another questionnaire on oral hygiene when their were admitted to determine which group had an increase in oral

Objective: To determine if oral care lowers the incidence rate of hospital acquired pneumonia infection in hospitalized patients with ventilators.

Halm, M., & Armola, R. (2009). Effect of oral care on bacterial colonization and ventilator-associated pneumonia. American Journal of Critical Care, 18(3), 275-278.

Aspiration pneumonia is one of the serious risk complications of stroke patients, about 40% of these patients have dysphagia (Cohen et al,2016). This affects the quality of life and prolongs hospital stay. A variety of options are recommended to minimize the risk of aspiration pneumonia, such as pharmacological therapies, compensatory strategy/positioning changes, tube feeding, oral hygiene and dietary interventions (Kaneoka et al, 2015).There are many issues faced by nursing in caring for dysphagia patient includes maintenance of oral care(Horne et al,2014). In this assignment, oral hygiene would take into consideration as one of the effective elements that utilized in hospitals. However, there was limited data published regarding oral care

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease involving a complex interaction between oral microbial challenge and host response that results in destruction of surrounding connective tissue matrix of the teeth, periodontal damage and eventual tooth loss (if left untreated) [1]. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g), a pathogenic bacterium is one of the most important microbes implicated in the aetiology of this oral condition [2]. Saliva, among other oral fluids captures aggregate of P.g and other periodontal bacteria [3, 4] because they are constantly washed into it from periodontal pockets [5]. These bacteria are relatively stable within an individual and different across individuals [6]. Moreover, saliva P.g content reflects an

Approximately 15 million people suffer a stroke worldwide each year, of those 5 million die and another 5 million are permanently disabled Mackay et al (2004). Stroke tends to affect people over the age of 75 (Scarborough et al 2009). Since almost 70% of people over 75 retain some teeth (Todd and Laden 1998), maintaining a healthy mouth is important for elderly stroke patients. Not only does effective oral care play a central role in the prevention of infection, a healthy mouth also makes a real difference to a person’s quality of life (McGrath and Bedi 1998) and maintenance of nutritional status (Jones 1998) .For these reasons, this dissertation will examine the benefits of good oral hygiene for elderly stroke patients and nurses role in

Periodontitis is recognised as chronic, low-grade, inflammatory and pathogenic infection, which continuously changes at a systemic level (Reddy, Phulambriker, Wanjari, Srivastava, 2012). Persistent inflammatory infection as a result of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria lead to the destruction of bone and other tooth-supporting structures; an outcome of periodontitis is periodontal pockets (Usin et al., 2014). This fact enables bacteria and their by-products to spread to areas indirectly through the body’s immune-inflammatory response (Usin et al., 2014), thus creating potential damages to other systems and organs.

The advantages of good oral hygiene can help prevent existing and prevalent dental problems, primarily plaque and calculus, which are the major causes of caries (cavities) and tooth decay. Dental caries are not only found in the adolescent population, but are also found in adults, due to gums receding throughout the aging process. This exposes the roots of teeth to the different types of bacteria that cause plaque and tooth decay. To be sure, seniors with poor health are no exception to dental caries and are often the most affected due to low fluoride use and/or poor oral care during adolescence. However, while dental caries and tooth decay are the most prominent topics of oral health, there is also a close connection association between poor dental care and overall health. Poor oral health can cause severe consequences in people with cardiovascular disease (CHD) due to the bacteria and periodontal diseases found in gums that enter the bloodstream and thus, into the heart, causing atherosclerosis. Another outcome of poor dental care is the increased risk of bacteria from gingivitis, called spirochetes, entering the brain through the bloodstream. This can eventually lead to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Periodontal disease and gum inflammation the inflammation of gums can also interfere with blood sugar levels and can cause symptoms to rise in diabetic patients. In addition, the increased risk of respiratory infections like pneumonia, which