Effect of Oral Hygiene Care on Prevention of Aspiration Pneumonia Among Hospitalized Stroke Patients

Aspiration pneumonia is a common and serious complication among hospitalized patients with stroke. Poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia by promoting bacterial colonization of the oral cavity. This study evaluated whether implementing a structured oral hygiene care protocol during hospitalization could reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia among stroke patients. In this non-randomized, quasi-experimental study, patients admitted after implementation of an oral hygiene care protocol received structured oral care delivered by trained nursing staff, while patients admitted prior to implementation served as historical controls and received standard care. The primary outcome was the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia during hospitalization. The findings of this study aim to inform simple, low-cost preventive strategies that may improve clinical outcomes for hospitalized stroke patients, particularly in resource-limited settings.