the effect of oral antibiotics on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Chlebicki and Safdar,38 Kola and Gastmeier,39and Pineda and colleagues40 focused on oral care with chlorhexidine only. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides strong evidence of the benefi cial eff ect of oral antiseptics in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, especially in cardiosurgical patients and with use of 2% chlorhexidine.