Conditions: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Keywords: Trauma Mechanical Ventilation Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Oral Care
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 66
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Examine the use of 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate as an adjunct to current oral care protocol for trauma patients on ventilator support to decrease the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia and oral bacterial load.

Detailed description:
To see a significant decrease in the bacterial load in the oral mucosa and subsequently, a decrease in the pathogenesis of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia through the use of an oral rinse containing 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate as part of an oral care protocol. Current oral care protocol includes the use of 1.5% H2O2-coated swabs every four hours, toothbrushing with toothpaste every 12 hours, and use of continuous subglottic suction apparatus.

Arms:
arm 1: Current oral care protocol includes the use of 1.5% H2O2-coated swabs every four hours, toothbrushing with toothpaste every 12 hours, and use of continuous subglottic suction apparatus. arm 2: This study will compare our current oral care practice with the use of Chlorhexidine Gluconate 0.12% (Peridex, 3M Corporation) Twice daily in addition to regularly scheduled oral care as a means to decrease the incidence of VAP utilizing evidence-based strategies.

Interventions: intervention 1: Chlorhexidine gluconate intervention 2: Toothpaste
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate 15ml Twice Daily, administered via toothbrushing and swabbing teeth, tongue, gingiva, and oral mucosa. intervention 2: Brushing the teeth, tongue, gingiva, and oral mucosa twice daily with toothbrush and toothpaste.

Protocol document: