Effects of different concentrations of clorhexidine gluconate used for oral care on oral flora

The study was performed as a randomized controlled, double-blind and experimental to determine the effects of three different concentrations (%2, %0.2%, %0.12) of chlorhexidine gluconate solution and %0.9 concentration of NaCl solution onto oral flora of patients under treatment in surgical intensive care unit. The population of the study consist of Surgical Intensive Care Unit patients whom had been undergone treatment between May 2013 and August 2013 at a public hospital. The sample of the study consist of 72 patients (4 groups with 18 members per each) that meet the criteria of research. Research datas have been obtained by using Socio-Demographic Characteristics Form, Oral Salivary Sample Form, Patient Care Schedule, Oral Care Protocol and Oral Assessment Guide. Statistical package program SPSS (version 17.0) was used to evaluate the findings obtained from the study. Results are evaluated at %95 confidence interval, p< 0.05 significance level, p <0.01, p <0.001 advanced significance level. As a result of microbiological analysis carried out with the purpose of determining the effect of oral care solutions onto oral flora, the most significant reduction in colonized bacteria quantity was seen in the group that chlorhexidine gluconate used at the concentration of 2%. The detected positive changes in Oral Assessment Guide Scores Means (score reduction) were statistically significant. Score reduction that is obtained at the second assessment of groups that chlorhexidine gluconate used at the concentration of 2% and 0.2%; and score reduction that is obtained at the fourth assessment of groups that chlorhexidine gluconate used at the concentration of 12% was statistically significant. And observed change in the groups that NaCl (0.9%) is used was not statistically significant.