Results Subjects were recruited from 1 March, 2004 until 30
November, 2007. While 175 subjects were randomized,
microbiologic baseline data was available for 146 subjects, with
115 subjects having full outcome assessment after at least 48
hours. Chlorhexidine reduced the number of Staphylococcus
aureus, but not the total number of enterics, Pseudomonas or
Acinetobacter in the dental plaque of test subjects. A nonsignificant
reduction in pneumonia rate was noted in groups
treated with chlorhexidine compared with the placebo group
(OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.25, P = 0.15). No evidence for
resistance to chlorhexidine was noted, and no adverse events
were observed. No differences were noted in microbiologic or
clinical outcomes between treatment arms.
Conclusions While decontamination of the oral cavity with
chlorhexidine did not reduce the total number of potential
respiratory pathogens, it did reduce the number of S. aureus in
dental plaque of trauma intensive care patients.