<![CDATA[Background: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common nosocomial infections among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mechanical ventilation increases the risk of bacterial colonization in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract, which may subsequently lead to VAP. Oral hygiene is recommended as part of the VAP prevention bundle to maintain oral cleanliness and reduce pathogenic bacterial colonization. Objective: To describe the implementation of oral hygiene for the prevention of VAP among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU of Santosa Hospital Bandung Kopo. Methods: This descriptive case study involved four patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU of Santosa Hospital Bandung Kopo. Oral hygiene using 0.2% chlorhexidine was administered three times daily for two consecutive days according to the hospital's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) was measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed descriptively by comparing CPIS values before and after oral hygiene. Results: Baseline CPIS scores ranged from 3 to 5. Following the intervention, two patients demonstrated a reduction in CPIS scores, from 4 to 3 and from 5 to 2, while the remaining two patients showed no change in their CPIS scores. All patients maintained CPIS values below 6 before and after the intervention, and no increase in CPIS scores was observed during the observation period. Conclusion: Oral hygiene using 0.2% chlorhexidine, performed according to the hospital's SOP, contributed to maintaining patients' clinical condition and supported efforts to prevent VAP among mechanically ventilated patients.]]>
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