\n Data derived from Mitchell B, et al. Abstract O0611. Presented at: ESCMID Global; April 17-21, 2026; Munich.
\n <\/figcaption>
\n <\/figure>\n\u201cThis study shows the importance of oral care which is often deprioritized,\u201d researcher Brett Mitchell, PhD,<\/b> professor of health services research and nursing at Avondale University in Cooranbong, Australia, told Healio. <\/p>\n
Mitchell and colleagues, who presented their findings at ESCMID Global, oversaw the Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Prevention (HAPPEN) study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) across three Australian hospitals over a 1-year span, ending in August 2025. In total, 8,870 patients joined the trial, with 4,567 in the intervention group.<\/p>\n
In addition to providing the oral hygiene care products and resources to patients in the intervention group, health care staff in this group also received onsite training, access to online resources and practical support to enhance the delivery of oral care to patients.<\/p>\n
The study noted that the proportion of oral care increased 12.6% (95% CI, 8.98%-17.3%) in the control group and 65% (95% CI, 56.1%-73%) in the intervention group, which averaged 1.5 times (95% CI, 1.4-1.7) of oral hygiene per day. Overall HAP risk decreased 57% in the intervention group (HR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.91).<\/p>\n
Mitchell said the study demonstrates a clear and statistical decrease of pneumonia linked to the intervention group. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt shows value in demonstrating why oral care needs to be improved and it\u2019s relatively simple to do,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
NV-HAP is estimated to make up 65% of all health care-acquired pneumonia cases in the United States, according to the CDC, which points out that about 1.6% of hospitalized patients experience NV-HAP with mortality rates between 15% to 30%.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why a toothbrushing regimen is so critical, Mitchell said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBrushing teeth and oral care reduces bacterial load,\u201d he said. \u201cMicro-aspiration is thought to be the main mechanism for NV-HAP. So, reducing bacteria load, when someone aspirates, is likely to reduce risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mitchell expects the study to bolster guidelines, which already advise using oral care in a hospital setting.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuidelines currently recommend that oral care be done,\u201d he said, \u201cexcept the problem being that it\u2019s grounded in observational studies. This is the largest RCT conducted to date and it will help strengthen evidence-based guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information:<\/h2>\n
Brett Mitchell, PhD<\/b>, <\/b>can be reached at infectiousdisease@healio.com.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Perspective<\/h2>\n
Back to Top <\/p>\n
\n
\n
![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/infectious-disease\/mugs\/g\/glatt_aaron80x106.jpg?w=80\")
\n <\/div>\n
Any study that demonstrates a 57% reduction in HAP risk demands our attention, especially given the dearth of such studies. Thus, the findings of the HAPPEN study are impressive, particularly when considering the ease in which such improvements can be made with essentially no toxicity or adverse reactions. Such low-cost, non-invasive intervention is indeed something that can potentially be quickly adopted and garner immediate benefit. While the exact links between oral flora, respiratory infection and proper hygiene are not fully understood, they are certainly connected. Given the magnitude of efficacy demonstrated in this Australian trial, it is certainly something that should not be ignored in the hospital setting.<\/default:p>Unfortunately, in our high-tech hospitals, low-tech oral hygiene is frequently deprioritized or hindered by a lack of resources and patient cooperation or frailty. This study attested that just a few minutes of consistent oral care (averaging 1.5 times daily) can lead to significant improvements, shifting the perception of oral care from a mere comfort measure to a more critical clinical intervention.<\/default:p>One study does not usually result in major clinical changes but given the lack of toxicity and relative ease in implementing better oral hygiene in the hospital setting, the potential cost savings from reduced antimicrobial use and shorter hospital stays is yet another reason for hospitals to focus more on such preventative oral hygiene care. Establishing standardized, simple oral care protocols will make this important practice a universal standard of care.<\/default:p><\/p>\n\n
Aaron E. Glatt, MD, MACP, FIDSA, FSHEA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau<\/li>\n
- Professor of Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
\n Disclosures: <\/strong> Glatt reports no relevant financial disclosures.
\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Published by:<\/span>
\n ![\"infectious](\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/idn.svg?la=en&h=19&w=171&hash=E5D33CE188190E773BF16C8B389C7AAC\")
\n <\/div>\n\n
Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n Source: <\/h2>\n
Mitchell B, et al. Abstract O0611. Presented at: ESCMID Global; April 17-21, 2026; Munich.<\/p>\n
Reference:<\/h2>\n\n
\n Disclosures: <\/strong>
\n Mitchell reports the Medical Research Future Fund funded the study.
\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n
![\"Healio](\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\")
<\/p>\n
Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n
\n <\/ul>\n