New research shows vulnerable patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who received enhanced oral care from a dentist were at significantly less risk for developing a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), like ventilator-associated pneumonia, during their stay. The study was published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Patients provided enhanced dental care were 56% less likely to develop a respiratory tract infection during their ICU stay compared to the control patient group.
