Summary
Across 13 studies (2,395 participants), brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine ranked most likely best for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia, then chlorhexidine alone, then brushing alone. Certainty was low or very low for each comparison.
Key points
- Brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine ranked most likely to be the best way to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (88.4%), followed by 0.12% chlorhexidine alone (76.1%) and brushing alone (73.2%).
- Oral care methods that included brushing ranked highly overall.
- Confidence in the evidence was low for each comparison, and the authors say further research is needed.
- Design: network meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials (2,395 adults on mechanical ventilation in intensive care) comparing 10 oral care treatments.
- Funding: ALCARE Co., Ltd, a medical supplies company; the authors declare no competing interests.