Usage Protocol Study of Calendula officinalis compared to Chlorhexidine in Oral Hygiene of Patients Admitted in the Intensive Care Unit

Background: Pneumonia is defined as the presence of pulmonary infiltrate of infectious origin, with the onset of fever, purulent sputum, leukocytosis and oxygenation reduction. Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the one that occurs after 48 h of endotracheal intubation and affects 9–27% of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In order to prevent patients from developing VAP, intervention protocols were drafted. One of those was oral hygiene using chlorhexidine (CLX) as mouthwash at the concentration of 0.2% or 2%, the latter being more effective. Depending on the length of use and the concentration increase, the bacteria will develop resistance to CLX, while some studies show the use of Calendula officinalis (Cal off) as beneficial.