scholarly journals Poor oral hygiene, oral microorganisms and aspiration pneumonia risk in older people in residential aged care: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangeeta Khadka ◽  
Shahrukh Khan ◽  
Anna King ◽  
Lynette R Goldberg ◽  
Leonard Crocombe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background aspiration pneumonia increases hospitalisation and mortality of older people in residential aged care. Objectives determine potentially pathogenic microorganisms in oral specimens of older people with aspiration pneumonia and the effect of professional oral care in reducing aspiration pneumonia risk. Data Sources PUBMED/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, COCHRANE, PROQUEST, Google Scholar, Web of Science. Study Eligibility Criteria published between January 2001 and December 2019 addressing oral microorganisms, aspiration pneumonia, oral health and treatment. Participants people 60 years and older in residential aged care. Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Intervention Trials checklist. Results twelve studies (four cross-sectional, five cohort and three intervention) reported colonisation of the oral cavity of older people by microorganisms commonly associated with respiratory infections. Aspiration pneumonia occurred less in people who received professional oral care compared with no such care. Isolation of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was related to mortality due to aspiration pneumonia. An interesting finding was isolation of Escherichia coli, a gut bacterium. Limitations more information may be present in publications about other co-morbidities that did not meet inclusion criteria. A high degree of heterogeneity prevented a meta-analysis. Issues included sampling size, no power and effect size calculations; different oral health assessments; how oral specimens were analysed and how aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed. Conclusions and Implications of Key Findings pathogenic microorganisms colonising the oral microbiome are associated with aspiration pneumonia in older people in residential care; professional oral hygiene care is useful in reducing aspiration pneumonia risk.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hollie-Ann Lee Shortland ◽  
Sally Hewat ◽  
Gwendalyn Webb ◽  
Anne E. Vertigan

Abstract BackgroundPoor oral health is a known predictor of aspiration pneumonia in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and chronically ill and has been linked to systemic disease, morbidity, and mortality. Reduced oral health not only places individuals at a greater risk of aspiration pneumonia but may result in pain or poorer dentition which can impact on mastication and swallowing. Consequences of this may include reduced oral intake, malnutrition, poorer health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Few evidence-based protocols exist to manage oral care in aged care populations, and maintenance of good oral hygiene is difficult for nursing and care staff to facilitate. However, myofunctional devices reportedly improve oral hygiene, oral behaviours, and swallowing, along with breathing and speech. The primary aims of this study are to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a using a myofunctional device to improve oral care and swallowing function in an aged care population. Methods/DesignThis project is a pilot study that involves a five-week intervention for oral hygiene and dysphagia for residents >65 years old in an aged care setting. Feasibility will be measured by number of consenting participants, trial completion rates, and treatment adherence. Acceptability will be measured through verbal surveys of aged care residents and a questionnaire of care staff assisting with the intervention. Secondary outcome measures will record changes in oral hygiene and dysphagia pre and post intervention. DiscussionThe results of this trial will provide important information regarding the acceptability and feasibility of utilising a myofunctional device to improve oral care and dysphagia in elderly patients in an aged care facility. This knowledge will further guide and inform design of a larger trial or future research. Trial registrationThis trial was registered 8/10/2021 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry and allocated the ACTRN: ACTRN12621001359820. Web address for trial: https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12621001359820.aspx


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Hearn ◽  
Linda Slack-Smith

The limited access to oral care for older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) has been noted repeatedly in the literature. The aim of this study was to explore RACF staff perspectives on how to engage dental professionals in the provision of oral care for RACF residents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 staff from six purposively selected RACFs located in high socioeconomic areas to gain understanding of the multidimensional issues that influenced the engagement of dental professionals from a carer perspective. Analysis revealed that staff perceived tensions regarding affordability, availability, accessibility and flexibility of dental professionals as significant barriers to better oral care for their residents. Participants raised a series of options for how to better engage dental professionals and reduce these barriers. Their ideas included: the engagement of RACF staff in collaborative discussions with representatives of public and private dental services, dental associations, corporate partners and academics; the use of hygienists/oral health therapists to educate and motivate RACF staff; the promotion of oral health information for troubleshooting and advice on how to deal with residents’ dental pain while waiting for support; the encouragement of onsite training for dental professionals; and the importance of gerodontology (geriatric dentistry). Findings highlighted the need to explore alternative approaches to delivering oral care that transcend the model of private clinical practice to focus instead on the needs of RACFs and take into account quality of end-of-life oral care.


Author(s):  
Angie Nilsson ◽  
Louise Young ◽  
Felicity Croker

Introduction: Australia’s population is living longer and retaining more of their dentition. While the demand for oral health services in residential aged-care facilities increases, there is a call for further inclusion of gerodontology in the undergraduate dental curriculum. This qualitative study explored the attitude of dental students to providing oral health care to older people using a pilot gerodontology curriculum as an intervention during a final-year clinical placement in Hobart, Tasmania.Methods: Focus groups with undergraduate dental students on clinical placement were conducted in 2018 prior to and after implementation of a pilot gerodontology curriculum. The qualitative data was thematically analysed.Results: Two focus groups were conducted with a total of 18 dental students. The main themes included: applied practical learning in aged care, unpreparedness for managing frail older patients, lack of confidence with the process of gaining consent from people with dementia, barriers to providing care to older people and interactions with residents and staff of residential aged-care facilities. Conclusions: This study highlighted the barriers for dental students providing care to older people. There is a need to evaluate how gerodontology is currently taught in the undergraduate dental curriculum to better prepare the dental workforce to respond effectively and more confidently to the growing population of dentate older people in residential aged-care facilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Hearn ◽  
Linda Slack-Smith

The oral health of older people living in residential aged care facilities has been widely recognised as inadequate. The aim of this paper is to identify barriers to effective engagement of health-care providers in oral care in residential aged care facilities. A literature review was conducted using MEDline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete and PsychInfo between 2000 and 2013, with a grey literature search of government and non-government organisation policy papers, conference proceedings and theses. Keywords included: dental/oral care, residential aged care, health-care providers, barriers, constraints, and limitations. A thematic framework was used to synthesise the literature according to a series of oral health-care provision barriers, health-care provider barriers, and cross-sector collaborative barriers. A range of system, service and practitioner level barriers were identified that could impede effective communication/collaboration between different health-care providers, residents and carers regarding oral care, and these were further impeded by internal barriers at each level. Findings indicated several areas for investigation and consideration regarding policy and practice improvements. While further research is required, some key areas should be addressed if oral health care in residential aged care services is to be improved.


Author(s):  
Dr. Vishal Thakur ◽  
Dr. Reetika Thakur ◽  
Dr. Manpreet Kaur ◽  
Dr. Jasleen Kaur ◽  
Dr. Atul Kumar ◽  
...  

Pregnancy is a unique, exciting time in a woman's life, and there are so many changes going on in human body during pregnancy and mouth is no exception , so good oral hygiene is extremely important during pregnancy . Usually oral health is often the most neglected form of health during all stages of life & the most important cause for this neglection is lack of awareness among people & this problems also increases when a lady is pregnant because of mis-perceptions and mis-leading information in the society or due to lack of knowledge. But the fact is during pregnancy many complex physiologic changes occur in the women’s body, which can adversely affect oral health and in turn those oral health problems may lead to pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth or low birth weight. Proper oral care is of utmost importance during pregnancy to avoid these complications. Avoiding foods that may cause oral problems, proper brushing and flossing and having dental consultations on a regular basis are steps to ensure good oral health during pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Reca Reca ◽  
Ainun Mardhiah ◽  
Cut Aja Nuraskin

Background: Dental and oral health is one part that can not be separated from overall body health. Dental and oral care as a whole begins with dental and oral hygiene for each individual. Teaching methods of brushing teeth for children need to be given examples of a good model and with the simplest technique possible.Objectives: The research aims to increase the knowledge of SDN 33 Banda Aceh City students in maintaining dental and oral health and improve the dental and oral hygiene status of SDN 33 Banda Aceh City students.Method:  The research using a quantitative method with a descriptive approach, with the target of Class V students of SDN 33 Banda Aceh City Banda Aceh City totaling 30 children. Data analysis uses univariate analysis. The interventions provided were in the form of Dental Health Education (DHE).Results: The results of these community service activities show there is an increase in students' knowledge in the maintenance of dental and oral hygiene in SDN 33 Banda Aceh City students, with an increase before the intervention (pre-test) is in the sufficient category (56.7%) and after the intervention (post test) in the good category (96.7%). There was an increase in the status of dental and oral hygiene of students, with an increase before the intervention (pre-test) was in the bad category (100%) and after the intervention (post test) was in the good category (100%).Conclusion: It is recommended that schools provide regular counseling to students about the importance of maintaining oral health and holding joint toothbrushes to improve oral and dental hygiene.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 668-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivica Stancic ◽  
Milos Petrovic ◽  
Aleksandra Popovac ◽  
Miroslav Vasovic ◽  
Nebojsa Despotovic

Background/Aim. Within the elderly population, residents in nursing homes, there is a greather risk of caries, periodontal disease and teeth loss. Assistance of caregivers in maintaininig good oral hygiene besides improving oral health can improve of residents general health and the qulity of their lives. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of caregivers and knowledge about oral health, as well as the practice regarding oral care they apply at nursing homes in Serbia. Methods. The survey was conducted at the Gerontology Center Belgrade, consisting of four nursing homes located in the urban area. The study included 58 caregivers. They were contacted on working days, in all work shifts, during January, February and March of 2013. They were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 26 closed-type questions. Results. The caregivers mostly considered that it was very important to take care of oral health of the residents, but 69% responded that the level of their oral health was low or very low. As the main barriers to oral hygiene maintenance, the caregivers indicated lack of time. The caregivers had more knowledge about periodontal disease than about the main cause of caries and its prevention. Formal medical education had the influence on the knowledge about oral diseases. Oral hygiene procedures carried out by the mayority of caregivers were denture cleaning and tooth brushing. Conclusion. The caregivers were aware of the limitations in everyday oral care of nursing homes residents in Serbia, although solving these problems requires the involvement of the entire public health service.


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