Table 2. Summary of the main characteristics of the eligible studies (all were randomized clinical trials with previous ethical clearance and application of informed consent, with patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours without pneumonia at baseline).
| Author (year) | Country | Participants | Groups | Sex | Age: Mean (SD) | APACHE, [type]: Mean (SD) [26,27] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munro et al. (16) | United States | 537 patients | [APACHE III] | |||
| Intervention 1: Toothbrushing (three times daily) | M: 28 F: 21 |
47.9 (17.5) | 76.4 (23.3) | |||
| Intervention 2: Toothbrushing (three times daily) + 0.12% CHX (twice daily) | M: 28 F: 20 |
47.3 (18.8) | 76.2 (25.5) | |||
| Control 1: 0.12% CHX/swab (twice daily) | M: 26 F: 18 |
46.1 (18.2) | 80.4 (28.7) | |||
| Control 2: usual care (NR) | M: 37 F: 14 |
46.8 (16.4) | 76.2 (3.3) | |||
| Pobo et al. (38) | Spain | 147 patients | Intervention: Standard care + toothbrushing (three times daily) | M: 49 F: 25 |
55.3 (17.9) | [APACHE II] 18.8 (7.1) |
| Control: Standard care (gauze containing 20 mL of 0.12% CHX applied to teeth, tongue, and the mucosal surface + 10 mL of 0.12% CHX digluconate was injected into the oral cavity (three times daily) | M: 46 F: 27 |
52.6 (17.2) | 18.7 (7.3) | |||
| Lorente et al. (2) | Spain | 436 patients | Intervention: 0.12% CHX‐impregnated gauze + toothbrushing of the teeth with 0.12% CHX (three times daily) | M: 146 F: 71 |
61 (15.6) | [APACHE II] 17.88 (8.84) |
| Control: 0.12% CHX‐impregnated gauze and oral cavity injection only (three times daily) | M: 145 F: 74 |
60.4 (16.6) | 19.16 (9.88) | |||
| Vidal et al. (39) | Brazil | 213 patients | Intervention: toothbrushing + 0.12% CHX (twice daily) | M: 51 F: 54 |
59.4 (14.5) | [APACHE II] 21.9 (7.5) |
| Control: swab + 0.12% CHX (twice daily) | M: 54 F: 54 |
63.2 (14.5) | 22.2 (7.7) |
SD, standard deviation; APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; M, male; F, female; CHX, chlorhexidine.