Prospective observational study to compare oral topical metronidazole versus 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate to prevent nosocomial pneumonia

Highlights • We investigated the long-term effectiveness of oral hygiene with chlorhexidine gluconate in prevention of nosocomial pneumonia in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. • Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.2%) may reduce the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia in an intensive care unit, but not in microbiologic epidemiology when noted. • Oral hygiene with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate showed a benefit in the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units, considering the safety and less selective pressure of antibiotic resistance.