What do systematic reviews say?

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care probably leads to lower incidence of VAP compared with placebo or usual care (moderate certainty).

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Follow-up: mean 1 month
  RR 0.67 [0.47, 0.97]
  13 studies · 1206 participants
  Moderate

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The outcome of caregivers' preferences was not reported by any study in this comparison.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: information from 2 studies; one stated there were none, the other reported mild reversible irritation of the oral mucosa; very low certainty. There was a lack of evidence about adverse effects.
  2 studies
  Very low

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care showed no clear difference in mortality compared with placebo or usual care (moderate certainty).

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Follow-up: mean 1 month
  RR 1.03 [0.80, 1.33]
  9 studies · 944 participants
  Moderate

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Plaque index: Fu 2019 found a significant reduction in the chlorhexidine group; Ozcaka 2012 and Scannapieco 2009 found no difference; 3 studies; no usable pooled estimate.
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care changes duration of mechanical ventilation compared with placebo or usual care (very low certainty).

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Follow-up: mean 1 month
  MD -1.10 [-3.20, 1.00]
  4 studies · 594 participants
  Very low

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care showed no clear difference in duration of ICU stay compared with placebo or usual care (low certainty).

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Follow-up: mean 1 month
  MD -0.89 [-3.59, 1.82]
  5 studies · 627 participants
  Low

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The outcome of cost was not reported by any study in this comparison.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care showed no clear difference in duration of systemic antibiotic use compared with placebo or usual care; GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.65 [-0.58, 1.88]
  1 study · 146 participants
  GRADE not reported