Methods: Parallel, open labeled but assessors¢ blinded, randomize-controlled trial. The trial was undertaken in a nursing home for elderly in Shizuoka, Japan. 34 toothed elderly over 64 years (75-104y) were subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned from the ID number to the intervention group (17/34) of receiving short-term professional oral health care (weekly treatment by dental hygienist for 4-weeks) and the control group (17/34) of usual oral health care (self care and treatment by other staffs). The outcomes were changes in oral bacterial parameters (number or percentage of bacteria in unstimulated saliva; whole bacteria, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium and Prevotella: opportunistic pathogenic bacteria detection: and index of oral hygiene evaluation). Each parameter was evaluated before and after the intervention period.
Results: Four elderly left the study due to death from old age (1), fracture of bone (1), refusal of participation (1), or multi-antibiotics usage at the intervention period (1). Finally, the groups consisted of 14/intervention and 16/control groups. The total of 30 elderly were analyzed. After intervention, the percentage of Streptococcus species in saliva increased and significantly changed for the better in the intervention group (Intervention, 86% [12/14]; Control, 50% [8/16]: Fisher, p<0.05). Moreover, index of oral hygiene evaluation showed a significant change for the better in the intervention group (Intervention, 57% [8/14]; Control, 19% [3/16]: Fisher, p<0.05).
None of the elderly reported any side effects.
Conclusions: Short-term professional oral health care (once a week in one month) can be effective for elderly in aspiration pneumonia prevention.
Trial registration and full trial protocol: http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm,UMIN000003212. Funding: This study was conducted by self funding.