Evaluating the Effectiveness of Thyme Versus Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Oral Health in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

Key Points

• This study evaluates the effectiveness of thyme mouthwash compared to chlorhexidine for oral health in ventilated ICU patients.
• Randomized controlled trial design
• Participants included invasively ventilated ICU patients
• Comparison between 5% thyme mouthwash and 0.2% chlorhexidine solution
• Oral health outcomes assessed at Day 5
• 5% thyme mouthwash showed comparable effectiveness to 0.2% chlorhexidine by Day 5
• Thyme mouthwash was well-tolerated by patients
• Implications point to thyme as a viable alternative for oral care in ICU settings