Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology

Background and Aim: Colonization of gram – negative bacteria and fungi in oropharynx of hospitalized patients in intensive care units, is an important process in the development of aspiration pneumonia in these patients (ICU). The purpose of current study was to define effect of selective oropharyngeal decontaminatio (SOD) on colonization of the oral-pharynx in hospitalized patients in intensive care units.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 60 hospitalized patients in ICU have been randomly divided into two groups: control group and experimental group. Routine mouthwash with saline solution (QID 0.9%) was prescribed and after 24 hours, a cultural test has shown colonization rate. For experimental group, immediately after cultural test, SOD (paste containing polymyxin 2%, Tobramycin 2%, Amphotericin 2%), were used for a week. Routine  mouthwash was continued for control group. After a week, the second culture was performed and the colonization rate in both groups was compared.

Results: SOD has decreased colonization rate in experimental group (positive 10 cases in the first culture to 4 cases in the second culture) and in control group, positive 8 cases in the first culture have increased to 18 cases in second culture. Statistical tests showed that the differences between these groups statistically were significantly meaningful (P= 0.002).

Conclusions: In this study, SOD (paste containing polymyxin 2% , Tobramycin 2%, Amphotericin 2%) every 6 hours during a week , in hospitalized patients in ICU, significantly have led to decreasing colonization of oral–pharynx in comparison with control group. As a result, the usage of it for the patients in ICU is recommended.