An exploratory study on the effectiveness of comprehensive oral care including antimicrobial administration at the back of the tongue in patients undergoing resection and reconstruction surgery for oral cancer.

In recent years, the relationship between the number of oral bacteria and aspiration pneumonia has been widely recognized, and attempts to reduce the number of oral bacteria to prevent pneumonia have become widely practiced. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that oral bacteria can cause surgical site infection (SSI) and postoperative pneumonia in perioperative period. It has also been reported that perioperative oral care is useful in reducing and preventing postoperative pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The oral cavity, particularly the dorsum of the tongue, is considered a potential reservoir of bacteria in the oropharyngeal region. Reducing the number of bacteria on the dorsum of the tongue may lead to a reduction in the number of bacteria in the oral cavity, which in turn may decreases pneumonia risk associated with oral bacteria. This preliminary study was conducted in patients after resection and reconstruction surgery of oral cancer, which is one of the frequent causes of aspiration pneumonia. This study determined whether comprehensive oral care, including administration of antimicrobials at the back of the tongue, is effective in reducing bacterial counts in the back of the tongue, saliva, and endotracheal intrusions and in preventing postoperative complications.