Efficacy of Moraceae with chlorhexidine mouthwash on the microbial flora of critically ill intubated patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

Critically ill intubated patients are routinely provided with chlorhexidine (CHX) for their mouth washing, but CHX mouthwash induces several complications. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Moraceae with CHX mouthwash in the reduction of oral bacterial count in critically ill patients and to compare it with CHX-alone mouthwash. This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial included critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The patients were randomly divided into two groups based on the Modified Beck oral assessment score. The primary endpoint was a reduction in oral bacterial counts after mouth washing on day 1 and day 4. Thirty patients were included in this study; 15 patients received Moraceae with CHX mouthwash and 15 patients received CHX-alone mouthwash. The oral bacterial counts in the Moraceae with CHX group did not differ from the CHX group after mouth washing on day 1 and day 4 of admission. The patients in the CHX group experienced more intolerable taste than those in the Moraceae group (60% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.008). Moraceae with CHX mouthwash had the same effectiveness as CHX alone on bacterial flora but exhibited less intolerable side effects than CHX alone. Trial registration: TCTR20190530003; 30/05/2019.