Which practice helps prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia by maintaining oral hygiene?

• A. Head of bed elevated
• B. Oral care
• C. Hand hygiene
• D. Suctioning every hour

Answer: (B)

Keeping the mouth clean in a patient on a ventilator lowers the oropharyngeal bacterial load, which reduces the chance that saliva or secretions containing pathogens will be aspirated into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Regular oral care directly targets the mouth, removing plaque and debris and often using antiseptic mouth rinses, thereby minimizing the reservoir of bacteria that can lead to ventilator-associated pneumonia. While elevating the head of the bed helps reduce aspiration risk in general, it doesn’t actively reduce oral bioburden. Hand hygiene prevents the spread of infections overall but doesn’t address mouth bacteria, and suctioning secretions removes mucus but doesn’t maintain oral cleanliness.