Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departement of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran.

2 ICU MSc, Departement of Nursing, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.

10.30491/tm.2023.425908.1658

Abstract

Introduction: This study assessed the effect of four doses of N-acetylcysteine %20 and probiotics on the variety of the oropharyngeal microbial flora of intubated ICU patients. 
 Methods: In this study, 60 ICU patients under mechanical ventilation were randomly assigned to three groups and treated with N-acetylcysteine %20 mouth rinse, probiotic, or routine care (chlorhexidine). A culture sample was obtained from the oropharyngeal zone before and 24 hours after mouth rinse.
Results: The colonized bacterial count of the sample was not significantly different before intervention among the N-acetylcysteine, probiotic, and routine care groups (P>0.05). 
Conclusion: The probiotics and N-acetylcysteine increased the variety of bacterial groups in the oropharyngeal zone. These florae can compete for nutritional items and growth conditions with pathogenic bacteria.

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