ORAL HYGIENE IN THE PREVENTION OF VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most recurrent infections in hospital settings. Therefore, preventive methods need to be implemented to avoid it, considering that its occurrence leads to increased mortality rates for institutionalized individuals, increased length of stay, hospitalization costs, and increased workload. This study aimed to list the main prophylactic measures related to the prevention of this infection, and for this purpose, a literature review was conducted. The results showed that chlorhexidine has been used in daily aseptic procedures, alone or in conjunction with other methods such as subglottic aspiration, colistin, cotton swabs, compresses, brushes, etc. Finally, VAP requires special attention because the first few days are the most conducive to its development, and aspiration pneumonias that develop after this period tend to have a multidrug-resistant profile.