부산대학교 도서관

Dental plaque is a biofilm of microorganisms that exist in the mouth. Such microorganisms may transfer from an endotracheal tube or ventilator to the lower respiratory tract, causing ventilator-associated pneumonia, the most common nosocomial infection seen in an intensive care unit. Oral mucosal health is therefore related to microorganisms found on endotracheal tubes or ventilators. Good oral care can promote a patient's comfort and reduce the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity, on endotracheal tubes, and in the respiratory tract, effectively reducing the possibility of infection. Due to the poor visual field in the oral cavity, complicated and time-consuming procedures, and excessive nursing hours, the clinical nursing staff may reduce the time and thoroughness needed to conduct good oral cleansing. To meet the critical needs of clinical care, the toothbrush design of Jie Chi-Ba changes the basic structure of the common toothbrush body. The traditional toothbrush head can be replaced with those made of bristles and sponges. A hole is opened at the side of the toothbrush body to insert a suction tube, which can spray and suck mouthwash consisting of 0.2% chlorhexidine. There is a ring at the bottom of the toothbrush shaft, where a bottle of supplement mouthwash can be inserted. An LED-405 nm blue light is also built into the toothbrush body, which can increase illumination and detect dental plaque when cleaning teeth. All of the features above can greatly improve the effectiveness of oral cleansing. If the Jie Chi-Ba toothbrush passes clinical human trials and receives approval from the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, it can prove its effectiveness in reducing any incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia and improve the quality of clinical care.