British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Oral decontamination techniques and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the major nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit (ICU), contributing to increased mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that oral decontamination through the use of mechanical and pharmacological agents significantly reduces the incidence of VAP, but oral care practices in ICUs are not consistent. ⋯ The greatest risk factor for developing VAP was the number of ventilator days (length of time on a ventilator). There was a statistical association between gender and presence of antibiotics with VAP.