Effect of daily manual toothbrushing with 0.2% chlorhexidine gel on pneumonia-associated pathogens in adults living with profound neuro-disability.

PURPOSE:To investigate the effect of daily toothbrushing with 0.2 % chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) on the colonization of dental plaque by pathogens associated with pneumonia amongst non-ventilated adults with a neuro-disability. METHODOLOGY:Forty-nine patients living in long-term care were recruited. Daily toothbrushing with 0.2 % CHX gel was conducted for 48 weeks. Plaque accumulation was assessed and microbiological sampling was undertaken every 6 weeks. RESULTS:At any one time point at least 65 % ( nPseudomonas aeruginosa,CONCLUSIONS:Bacteria known to be causal in pneumonia are present and colonize the dental plaque of non-ventilated adults with a neuro-disability. Daily toothbrushing with 0.2 % CHX gel did not produce a sustained reduction in intra-oral respiratory pathogen counts after 48 weeks.