Mouth rinse to prevent lung infections in critically ill COPD patients

This trial is testing whether chlorhexidine—a rinse solution used for mouth care—can help prevent pneumonia in people with COPD who are very ill and admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). The study compares two groups: one receiving standard mouth care twice daily, and another receiving standard mouth care plus the chlorhexidine rinse solution. The goal is to see if this medication can reduce the risk of developing pneumonia while in the hospital.

Critically ill patients in ICUs are at very high risk of developing pneumonia from bacteria that grow in their mouth and are then inhaled into the lungs. Since these patients often can't clean their own mouths due to their illness, researchers want to test whether using this medication as part of daily mouth care can kill harmful bacteria and prevent serious infections.