The effect of oral care using apple cider vinegar, chlorhexidine gluconate and sodium bicarbonate on oral microbial colonization in neurosurgery intensive care patients

Aim: To examine the effect of oral care using ACV, chlorhexidine gluconate and sodium bicarbonate on oral microbial colonization in neurosurgery intensive care patients. Material and Method: The research was conducted as a experimental study. Its universe is intubated patients in Turgut Ozal Medical Center Neurosurgery Intensive Care; The sample consisted of 90 patients. Data were collected between January 2021 and January 2022 using the Patient Identification Form, Oral Evaluation Scale and Microbiology Follow-up Form. Before oral care was given and after oral care was given every 6 hours for 5 days, the patients' mouth were evaluated, cultured and analyzed in the microbiology laboratory. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, One-way ANOVA and Paired Sample Test were used to evaluate the data. Results: When the changes in the number of microorganism colonies and the Oral Assessment Scale mean scores before and after oral care were examined in group comparisons; It was determined that the care given with sodium bicarbonate and ACV was effective in reducing the average score of the patients' oral assessment scale (p<0.05). Oral care with sodium bicarbonate and ACV was found to be effective in maintaining the integrity of the oral mucous membrane (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the oral microorganism colony counts and oral evaluation scale mean scores of the patients showed a decrease compared to before oral care, it was found that one of the groups was not superior to the other, and sodium bicarbonate and ACV were effective in improving oral health. Keywords: Nursing, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Neurosurgery, Sodium Bicarbonate