Resumo

PIRES, Juliana Rico et al. Oral profile of cancer patients and infection control in the intensive care unit. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. [online]. 2014, vol.68, n.2, pp. 140-445. ISSN 0004-5276.

The frequency of oral biofilm and oral and respiratory pathogens has been higher in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The objective was to evaluate the oral profile of cancer patients and evaluate the effect of oral care in the control of infection in intensive care unit (ICU) of Pio XII Foundation - Cancer Hospital of Barretos, SP. From March to May 2011, 73 patients had been followed during the ICU stay of Pio XII Foundation. Oral profile: Healthy, restored and carious teeth, presence of dental plaque, tongue coating, erythema, ulcers, mucositis, candidiasis were analyzed. It was verified the effect of a oral care protocol involving diagnosis and treatment: oral hygiene was treated with 0.12% chlorhexidine, the candidiasis was treated by antifungal and the stomatitis was treated by laser. The Spearman test found correlation between clinical features and duration of ICU stay (􀆠=0.05). The fatality rate was 21.9% after ICU admission and was associated with longer periods of stay in the ICU (r=0.7, p=0.0003). 25 % being due to septicemia (r=0.74 , p<0.0001) and 12.5% by nosocomial pneumonia (r=0.46 , p=0.03). A significant reduction in the frequency of dental biofilm (43.5%) and tongue coating (19.2%) was observed with the proposed protocol. It was concluded that the protocol of diagnosis and treatment of oral abnormalities in cancer patients during ICU stay was able to reduce the risk of hospital infection, to reduce morbidity in these patients and to improve the oral health status of them.

Palavras-chave : intensive care units; oral hygiene index; stomatitis; oncology service; hospital; hospital infection control program.