Professional oral health care by dental hygienists reduced respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care

[Sally Furniss]

Professional oral health care by dental hygienists reduced respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care

M Adachi, K Ishihara, S Abe and K Okuda
Mieko Adachi, Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Aobaku, Sendai, Japan
Kazuyuki Ishihara, Shu Abe, Katsuji Okuda, Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan
Correspondence to Mieko Adachi
Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry
Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry
4-1 Seiryouchou, Aobaku
Sendai 980-8575
Japan
Tel.: +81-43-270-3742
Fax: +81-43-270-3744
E-mail: mieko-a@k9.dion.ne.jp
Copyright 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation 2007 Blackwell Munksgaard

ABSTRACT

Abstract: Objectives: Respiratory infection is a major cause of death in the elderly. We have evaluated the role of professional oral health care (POHC) by dental hygienists in reducing respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care.

Methods:

Two populations of elderly persons, one receiving POHC and one not, were examined to determine numbers of microorganisms, potent pathogens of respiratory infection, enzymatic activity in saliva, fevers, prevalence of fatal aspiration pneumonia and prevalence of influenza.

Results:

In the first population, we found a high prevalence of potent respiratory pathogens such as Staphylococcus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.

Patients who received POHC showed a lower prevalence for these pathogens than those who did not.

The ratio of fatal aspiration pneumonia in POHC patients was significantly lower than that in patients without POHC (non-POHC) over a 24-month period (P < 0.05).

The prevalence of a fever of 37.8°C or more in POHC patients was significantly lower than that in the non-POHC group (P < 0.05).

In the second study population, we investigated the effects of POHC on infection with influenza over a 6-month period. In the POHC group, neuraminidase and trypsin-like protease activities decreased, and one of 98 patients was diagnosed with influenza; whereas, in the non-POHC group, nine of 92 patients were diagnosed with influenza.

The relative risk of developing influenza while under POHC was 0.1 (95% CI 0.01–0.81, P = 0.008).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that POHC by dental hygienists is effective in preventing respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care.

Dates: Accepted 24 January 2007

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

[Sally Furniss]

hat tip Kiwibird

Originally Posted by Sally

Hygiene first. There was a lot of gargling going on in 1918, but Rice suspects that it did more harm than good. But a study in Japan during a flu outbreak two years ago found that those who made a point of brushing their teeth and their tongue a few times a day reduced the flu’s severity. It was compared with keeping a doorstep swept.

[gsgs]

reminds me, that gargling has a tradition in Japan.

however, Professional oral health care by dental hygienists
will not be available in a pandemic, so what can we do by ourselves ?

Doesn't this demonstrate, that flu transmits by eating ?
Even if it's killed in stomach, it may infect in mouth.


> In the POHC group, ... 1 of 98 patients was diagnosed with influenza;
> whereas, in the non-POHC group, 9 of 92 patients were diagnosed with influenza.

suggesting >90% of flu-transmission were through the mouth !
That however makes me doubt the whole study

[Sally Furniss]

pdf of the study

http://ir.tdc.ac.jp/irucaa/bitstream...07.00233.x.pdf