Relationship between oral bacteria count and pneumonia onset in elderly nursing home residents. Issue 4 (11th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kikutani, Takeshi; Tamura, Fumiyo; Tashiro, Haruki; Yoshida, Mitsuyoshi; Konishi, Kiyoshi; Hamada, Ryo
• Is Part Of: Geriatrics and gerontology international. Volume 15:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 417
• Page End: 421
• Publication Date: 2014-08-11
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Japan -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Japan -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.12286
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1444-1586

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ggi12286-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Oral bacteria, which are a source of infection for aspiration pneumonia, were examined in frail older adults with the aim of establishing a standard bacteria count that indicates the risk of pneumonia onset in this group.</p> </sec> <sec id="ggi12286-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A survey of bacteria count in the saliva using a simple instrument for measurement of the number of oral bacteria, along with factors including swallowing function and nutritional status, was carried out in 691 elderly individuals requiring care (137 men; mean age 82.6 ± 8.3 years; 554 women; mean age 88.0 ± 7.1 years; total mean age 86.7 ± 7.8 years) at 16 nursing homes in Japan. All participants gave their consent for inclusion in the present study. During a 6‐month follow‐up period, participants who developed pneumonia were identified, and relationships between the factors measured at the start of the period and pneumonia onset were examined.</p> </sec> <sec id="ggi12286-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>During the 6‐month follow‐up period, 33 participants (4.8%; 5 men, 28 women; mean age 88.3 ± 7.4 years) developed pneumonia. Pneumonia onset was significantly associated with reduced activities of daily living, swallowing dysfunction and undernourishment. Logistic regression analysis identified a saliva bacteria count of 10<sup>8.5</sup> colony‐forming units/mL as an independent explanatory factor for pneumonia onset (<italic>P</italic> = 0.012, <italic>RR</italic> = 3.759).</p> </sec> <sec id="ggi12286-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Oral bacteria count of 10<sup>8.5</sup> colony‐forming units/mL saliva in an elderly person requiring care was identified as a risk factor for pneumonia onset. <bold>Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 417–421</bold>.</p> </sec> </abstract>