Al though meticulous oral care has been shown to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), oral care practices among critical care nurses remain inconsistent, with mouth care often perceived as a comfort measure rather
than as a critical component of infection control. VAP develops from a bacterial infection of the lung parenchyma and may emerge as early as 48 to 96 hours following respiratory incubation. In adult critical care units, mean VAP rates range from zero to six per 1,000 ventilator days, with the risk of infection increasing with the duration of mechanical ventilation. As front line care providers, nurses need to recognize that maintaining oral hygiene to prevent VAP is an infection control priority.