Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Over the past few decades, several studies have suggested a possible link between oral and systemic diseases. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition of bacterial origin, is among the main risk factors for systemic changes and may contribute to the development of respiratory infections, such as nosocomial pneumonia (NPC). This, in turn, is a pulmonary infection acquired in the hospital environment and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in patients admitted to intensive care units.
The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between periodontal disease and the risk of respiratory infections in hospitalized patients, focusing on nosocomial pneumonia. A literature review was conducted using the PICOS strategy, with articles published between 2014 and 2024 selected from the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases. Ten relevant studies that directly addressed the topic were included.
The results demonstrated a significant association between the presence of periodontal disease and increased colonization by respiratory pathogens in the oral cavity, which can be aspirated into the lower respiratory tract. Prevention strategies, such as proper oral hygiene and the use of antiseptics, especially chlorhexidine, have been shown to be effective in reducing bacterial load and the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia. However, further studies with greater methodological rigor are still needed to establish a definitive causal relationship.
Understanding this possible interaction between oral health and respiratory infections is essential for the development of preventive protocols in hospital settings, aiming to improve the quality of care and reduce respiratory complications in critically ill patients.
References
BEATRIZ, A. et al. Prevalence, outcomes, and predictors of multidrug-resistant nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections among patients in an ICU. 2022. p. e20220235–e20220235.
GUIMARÃES, G. R.; QUEIROZ, A. P. G.; FERREIRA, A. C. R. Instituição de um protocolo de higiene bucal em pacientes internados no CTI do HUSF. Periodontia, p. 7–10, 2017.
KANZIGG, L. A.; HUNT, L. Oral health and hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients: a review of the literature. American Dental Hygienists’ Association, v. 90, n. suppl 1, p. 15–21, 2016.
LAVIGNE, S. E.; FORREST, J. L. An umbrella review of systematic reviews of the evidence of a causal relationship between periodontal microbes and respiratory diseases. Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, v. 54, n. 3, p. 144–155, 2020.
LUÍS, S. et al. Atuação odontológica em UTI: a importância da Periodontia na qualidade de saúde do paciente crítico. ImplantNewsPerio, p. 791–796, 2016.
PORTO, A. N. et al. Oral and endotracheal tubes colonization by periodontal bacteria: a case–control ICU study. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, v. 35, n. 3, p. 343–351, 2016.
SHIMPI, N. et al. Identifying oral disease variables associated with pneumonia emergence by application of machine learning to integrated medical and dental big data to inform eHealth approaches. Frontiers in Dental Medicine, v. 3, 2022.
SOUTO, R.; SILVA-BOGHOSSIAN, C. M.; COLOMBO, A. P. V. Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. in subgingival biofilm and saliva of subjects with chronic periodontal infection. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 45, n. 2, p. 495–501, 2014. DOI: 10.1590/s1517-83822014000200017.
SPEZZIA, S. Pneumonia nosocomial, biofilme dentário e doenças periodontais. Periodontia, p. 65–72, 2019.
VILELA, M. C. N. et al. Oral care and nosocomial pneumonia: a systematic review. Einstein (São ), v. 13, n. 2, p. 290–296, 2015. DOI: 10.1590/s1517-83822014000200017.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Angelo Rafael de Pereira Dias, Gabriel Alves Torres, Tereza Maria Alcântara Neves, Matheus Araújo Brito
