Evaluation of pneumonia indexes associated with mechanical ventilation in a COVID-19 unit with dentist

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The aim of this research is to evaluate whether there was a difference after the insertion of the dental surgeon in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that cares for patients with COVID-19 in relation to VAP control, length of stay and mortality.Materials and methods O Dentista foi inserido por três meses na equipe multiprofissional. No começo de cada mês foi realizada uma capacitação com os técnicos de enfermagem e enfermeiros. Foram coletados no Serviço de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar os índices de PAVM, tempo de internação hospitalar e mortalidade na UTI nos três meses anteriores a inserção do Cirurgião-Dentista na equipe e três meses após a inserção do mesmo.Results: After statistical analysis, the hospitalization rate increased in the period in which the dentist was working in the COVID-19 unit, but the p value was not significant in this variant (p > 0.062). The percentage of VAP in the period before and after the dentist's intervention in the COVID-19 unit decreased with a significant difference between the evaluated periods (p < 0.0001). Regarding mortality, it was found that there was an increase in the number of deaths over time, however without statistical significance (p > 0.2790).Conclusion The pandemic came to confirm the importance of dental care in the hospital environment and the integration of the professional dentist in the health team, contributing to the oral health and quality of life of critical patients.Clinical significance: o aumento do número de Cirurgiões-Dentistas nas equipes multiprofissionais, dando capacitação e suporte à equipe com os cuidados bucais em pacientes críticos, junto com o protocolo fixo sobre higienização em pacientes intubados repassado à equipe no início de cada mês, contribuiu de forma significativa para redução da PAVM.