Effectiveness of oral chlorhexidine for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator‐associated pneumonia in intensive care units: Overview of systematic reviews

OBJECTIVE: To summarize evidence regarding the effectiveness of using chlorhexidine for oral healthcare on patients in the intensive care unit for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia. METHODS: This overview of systematic reviews was developed using articles found in PUBMED, Cochrane Library, LILACS, CRD, CINHAL, manual search and grey literature. RESULTS: Of the total 16 systematic reviews, 14 included meta-analysis. Most of them were classified with high methodological quality. In seven systematic reviews, chlorhexidine was effective for prevention of nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia in adult population in cardiothoracic intensive care unit. The effectiveness was contradictory with other population patients in intensive care units. CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine has proven to be effective for the prevention of NP among adult populations in cardiothoracic ICU. In ICUs with patients who have varied clinical-surgical conditions, the effectiveness of chlorhexidine for the prevention of PN and VAP was inconclusive.