Abstract
Background and purpose: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most prevalent nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICUs). To prevent VAP, several strategies are employed, including oral care with mouthwashes. This study sought to compare the effects of Zataria multiflora essential oil mouthwash combined with chlorhexidine (ZM + CHG) against chlorhexidine (CHG) alone in reducing the incidence of VAP among ICU patients.
Materials and methods: This study is a single-blind clinical trial involving 120 mechanically ventilated ICU patients. They were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received Zataria multiflora 0.2 % mouthwash
and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (ZM + CHG group), while the control group received chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (CHG group), both administered twice daily for five days. Clinical pulmonary infection, oral health, and oral mucosal-plaque condition were assessed using the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), Beck oral assessment scale (BOAS), and mucosal-plaque score (MPS), respectively.
Results: Both ZM + CHG and CHG were effective in reducing the incidence of VAP, with ZM + CHG demonstrating superior effectiveness (p < 0.05). Moreover, ZM + CHG led to a significant improvement in oral and dental health scores and oral mucosal plaque condition compared to CHG (p < 0.05). This study found no significant complications from using either mouthwash, although the follow-up period was relatively short.
Conclusion: ZM + CHG reduced the incidence of VAP in ICU patients more effectively than CHG. It also improved oral health and mucosal-plaque condition in mechanically ventilated patients. Thus, ZM + CHG could serve as an
alternative to CHG in ICU patients under mechanical ventilation. However, additional studies are needed to confirm its impact on VAP incidence.
Materials and methods: This study is a single-blind clinical trial involving 120 mechanically ventilated ICU patients. They were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received Zataria multiflora 0.2 % mouthwash
and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (ZM + CHG group), while the control group received chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2 % mouthwash (CHG group), both administered twice daily for five days. Clinical pulmonary infection, oral health, and oral mucosal-plaque condition were assessed using the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), Beck oral assessment scale (BOAS), and mucosal-plaque score (MPS), respectively.
Results: Both ZM + CHG and CHG were effective in reducing the incidence of VAP, with ZM + CHG demonstrating superior effectiveness (p < 0.05). Moreover, ZM + CHG led to a significant improvement in oral and dental health scores and oral mucosal plaque condition compared to CHG (p < 0.05). This study found no significant complications from using either mouthwash, although the follow-up period was relatively short.
Conclusion: ZM + CHG reduced the incidence of VAP in ICU patients more effectively than CHG. It also improved oral health and mucosal-plaque condition in mechanically ventilated patients. Thus, ZM + CHG could serve as an
alternative to CHG in ICU patients under mechanical ventilation. However, additional studies are needed to confirm its impact on VAP incidence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101966 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice |
| Volume | 60 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2025 |
Keywords
- Chlorhexidine Complementary medicine Intensive care unit Mouthwash Ventilator-associated pneumonia Zataria multiflora
- Complementary medicine
- Mouthwash
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia
- Chlorhexidine
- Zataria multiflora
- Intensive care unit
