Objective: This study aimed to compare oral care with suction sponge swabs and standard sponge swabs to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design. The study sample consisted of 57 adult patients who remained intubated. Routine oral care was applied to the patients in group I using 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution and oral care stick 4 times a day for 7 days at 6-hour intervals. Oral care was given to the patients in group II using a suction swab and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution 4 times a day for 7 days. Every morning for 7 days, the intraoral mucosa of all groups of patients was assessed. The tracheal aspirate culture sample was taken from the patients after 48 hours and 7 days. The same forms for the posttest data of both groups were filled out 7 days later. The data were evaluated using the single-blind study.
Results: Fewer patients developed VAP in group II than in group I. However, the superiority of 2 oral care materials in preventing VAP was not statistically significant (P > .05). In addition, regular care given to both groups was oral, and its effectiveness on mucosa was statistically significant (P < .05).
Conclusion: Regular oral care positively affects the oral mucosal condition. Standard oral care sticks and suction oral care sticks are essential for providing oral hygiene for patients in the intensive care unit.
Cite this article as: Köse A, İpek Çoban G. Comparison of oral care with suction sponge swabs and standard sponge swabs for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: Quasi-experimental trial. Arch Health Sci Res. 2024;11(3):160-165.