COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF CHLORHEXIDINE MOUTHWASH WITH DINEH HERBAL MOUTHWASH IN PREVENTING VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN THE PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Consumption of mouthwashes is effective in reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia in the patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit. Considering the importance of controlling and preventing the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, it was decided to compare the effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash with Dinah herbal mouthwash in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit.

In this clinical trial study, 80 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit were included in the study in two groups of receiving chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% and Dineh mouthwash. The frequency, time, and method of mouthwash in both groups were performed three times a day (every eight hours) for 5 days. The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality in the patients after taking drugs were investigated. Finally, the information was entered into SPSS 23 software and analyzed.

There were 21 female patients (52.5%) and 19 male patients (47.5%) in the chlorhexidine group, and 18 female patients (45%) and 22 male patients (55%) in the Dina group (p=0.655). The average age in the chlorhexidine group was 60.85±7.92 years and in the Dineh group was 57.68±6.93 years (p=0.060). The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 10% in the chlorhexidine group and 12.5% in the Dinah group (P=0.999). The outcome of the patients in the chlorhexidine group was 62.5% complete recovery, 32.5% recovery with complications, and 0.5% death, and in the Dina group, 70% complete recovery, 20% recovery with complications, and 10% death (p=0 /363).

In the patients under mechanical ventilation, Dinah mouthwash was not superior to chlorhexidine mouthwash in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.