Respiratory disease and the role of oral bacteria

The relationship between oral health and systemic conditions, including the association between poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, and respiratory disease, has been increasingly debated over recent decades. A considerable number of hypotheses have sought to explain the possible role of oral bacteria in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases, and some clinical and epidemiological studies have found results favoring such an association. This review discusses the effect of oral bacteria on respiratory disease, briefly introduces the putative biological mechanisms involved, and the main factors that could contribute to this relationship. It also describes the role of oral care for individuals who are vulnerable to respiratory infections

Topical antibiotics as a major contextual hazard toward bacteremia within selective digestive decontamination studies: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Among methods for preventing pneumonia and possibly also bacteremia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, Selective Digestive Decontamination (SDD) appears most effective within randomized concurrent controlled trials (RCCT’s) although more recent trials have been cluster randomized. However, of the SDD components, whether protocolized parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis (PPAP) is required, and whether the topical antibiotic actually presents a contextual hazard, remain unresolved. The objective here is to compare the bacteremia rates and patterns of isolates in SDD-RCCT’s versus the broader evidence base. METHODS: Bacteremia incidence proportion data were extracted from component (control and intervention) groups decanted from studies investigating antibiotic (SDD) or non-antibiotic methods of VAP prevention and summarized using random effects meta-analysis of study and group level data. A reference category of groups derived from purely observational studies without any prevention method under study provided a benchmark incidence. RESULTS: Within SDD RCCTs, the mean bacteremia incidence among concurrent component groups not exposed to PPAP (27 control; 17.1%; 13.1-22.1% and 12 intervention groups; 16.2%; 9.1-27.3%) is double that of the benchmark bacteremia incidence derived from 39 benchmark groups (8.3; 6.8-10.2%) and also 20 control groups from studies of non-antibiotic methods (7.1%; 4.8 – 10.5). There is a selective increase in coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) but not in Pseudomonas aeruginosa among bacteremia isolates within control groups of SDD-RCCT’s versus benchmark groups with data available. CONCLUSIONS: The topical antibiotic component of SDD presents a major contextual hazard toward bacteremia against which the PPAP component partially mitigates. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0714-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Higiene bucal: prática relevante na prevenção de pneumonia hospitalar em pacientes em estado crítico Higiene bucal: práctica relevante en la prevención de neumonía hospitalaria en pacientes en estado crítico Oral hygiene: a relevant practice to prevent hospital pneumonia in critically ill patients

Este artigo objetivou atualizar o conhecimento a respeito dos aspectos microbiológicos da cavidade oral e sua relação com a higiene bucal na prevenção da pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica. Estudos analisados têm sido favoráveis ao uso de antissépticos para descontaminação da orofaringe, embora ainda não exista uma padronização de condutas a respeito da técnica e produtos.<br>Este artículo tuvo por objetivo actualizar el conocimiento sobre aspectos microbiológicos de la cavidad oral y verificar la relación de la higiene bucal con la prevención de la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica. Los estudios analizados se han mostrado favorables al uso de antisépticos para descontaminar la cavidad oral y la faringe, a pesar de que todavía no existe una estandarización de conductas sobre la técnica y de los productos utilizados en ese proceso.<br>The objective of this article was to update knowledge on the microbiological aspects of the oral cavity and, verify the relation of oral hygiene with the prevention of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation. The studies analyzed were in favor of the use of antiseptics for decontaminating the oral cavity and pharynx, although there is still no standardization of procedures on the technique and products used in this process