Oral Care and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
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Key facts
About 1.6% of hospitalized patients develop non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia, with reported mortality of 15–30%.
CDC encourages hospitals to build oral care into care for non-ventilated patients as part of preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Does not show that any Dentulu service prevents pneumonia.
What CDC says
CDC's toolkit reports that about 1.6% of hospitalized patients develop non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP), with reported mortality of 15–30%. Dental plaque begins forming within hours of brushing and can harbor bacteria that, if inhaled, may lead to pneumonia. CDC calls oral care a low-risk, low-cost intervention that may reduce NV-HAP.
What hospitals have reported
CDC highlights the Department of Veterans Affairs HAPPEN program, a nurse-led oral care initiative that reported pneumonia rate reductions of 40–60% at participating sites. These are results of nursing-led daily oral care, and they vary by site.
Where dental professionals fit
CDC recommends a multidisciplinary NV-HAP team that includes a dental team member. Dentists can help with oral assessments, staff training and patients with complex mouth problems, while nurses lead daily care.
This page does not claim that any teledentistry service prevents pneumonia.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads oral care in hospitals?
Usually nursing, with support from infection prevention and dental professionals.
How often should patients receive oral care?
CDC's sample procedures suggest at least twice daily for most patients.
Does this apply to patients who are not on ventilators?
Yes. That is the focus of CDC's toolkit.
Add dental expertise to your pneumonia prevention team.
Please do not include patient information.