Frequency of isolation of nosocomial pneumonia pathogens from the respiratory tract of cardiac surgery hospital patients who are under extended artificial lung ventilation and efficiency of oral cavity sanitation with chlorhexidine solution

Objective. To assess the frequency and degree of bacterial contamination of the respiratory tract in patients of cardiac surgery hospital, who are on prolonged mechanical ventilation, and to evaluate the efficiency of sanitation of the oral cavity with a solution of chlorhexidine.

Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of the oral and tracheobronchial tract microbiota in operated patients of cardiac surgery hospital undergoing prolonged (48–72 hours) artificial lung ventilation (ALV) was carried out. Microbiological assessment of the effectiveness of the oral cavity sanation with 0.1 % aqueous chlorhexidine solution is given.

Results. The oral and tracheobronchial microbiota of cardiac surgery patients undergoing prolonged ALV are represented by gram-positive (S. epidermidis) and gram-negative (K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii) microorganisms as well as Candida fungi. It was found out that the indices of the frequency and intensity of microbial isolation from the samples of the lower parts of the respiratory tract content were comparable with those of the oral cavity. The exception was S. epidermidis, the number of which in the lower airways compared to the upper ones was low. There was a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of microbial contamination of the oral cavity in patients on ALV after the sanation procedure with an aqueous chlorhexidine solution.

Conclusions. Frequency and intensity indices of opportunistic microorganisms (K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. inaumannii, Candida fungi) isolation from the oral cavity and lower respiratory tract in patients of cardiac surgical hospital under prolonged ALV have no statistically significant differences. The exception is S. epidermidis, whose numbers in the lower airways are low compared to the upper ones. The microbiological effectiveness of 0.1 % aqueous chlorhexidine solution in the process of sanitation of the oral cavity in patients on prolonged ALV has been established.