Patients in ICUs have tenfold increased risk of developing serious infections

In the ICU, remember the mouth! . This is the slogan of the National Campaign developed and launched by the Department of Dentistry Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine (AMIB). As reported by the association, infections have become a challenge in the hospital, being a frequent manifestation in critically ill patients, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units. This is due to the clinical condition of patients and the variety of invasive procedures performed routinely, which determine a probability of between 5 and 10 times greater than an infection, accounting for about 20% of hospital infections.

With the constant emergence of scientific evidence backing the harmful role of impairments and oral and dental infections to the deterioration of general condition of the patients enrolled in the Intensive Care Units, dentistry is sharing responsibilities with other members of health teams especially in issues relating to infection control and best offer comfort to these patients, says Marcia Teresa Morais, president of the Department of Dentistry and AMIB campaign coordinator.

According to a dentist, lack of dental treatment increases the possibility of infections and sepsis (generalized infection) in Intensive Care Units and can cause disease to pneumonia accounted for 30% of deaths in this environment. The poor oral hygiene is common in ICU patients. This issue provides the colonization of oral biofilm by pathogenic microorganisms, especially respiratory alert.

Several studies show hospital infections are the most frequent complications of treatment in Intensive Care Units. The role of the dentist in this environment can greatly aid in the reduction of serious infections because considerable percentage of these infections begins with the mouth.

Teresa warns that we need to be sticking to some important points in these patients. Among them, identify dental problems and periodontal prior to admission. Scientific researches are giving oral infections an interrelationship with other systemic diseases, and consider them the potential to aggravate a preexisting condition or systemic, collaborate for the individual to have a greater risk of developing other illnesses, he said.

<b> Campaign </ b>

The campaign was designed to reach various audiences: Civil society, showing the importance of oral care in ICUs; dentists, reinforcing the need for the inclusion and empowerment of working in intensive care, critical care professionals, promoting awareness of the benefits generated by the action of dentists in improving patient comfort and reduce the rates of respiratory infections, and hospital managers, demonstrating the reduction of hospital costs and length of stay, ICU when the account with the dentist.

One of the items that make up the list of materials awareness is Oral Hygiene Kit, indicates that healthcare professionals and family members of patients in ICUs what is needed for such patients as hygiene, tooth brushes indicating what type of bristle more appropriate for the patient, size of the brush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss.

We can not allow full century XXIO ignorance about the impact of oral health on the health of individuals, especially those with compromised health, such as ICU patients. We need to reduce the high rates of respiratory infections known to have relationship with the dental problems and can lead to death and strengthens.

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