The effect of propolis oral care on oral mucositis in intensive care patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.
Büşra Nur Özel Akyürek, Sevda Korkut, Mustafa Öner Küçük et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether adding propolis gargle to standard oral care prevented oral mucositis in 60 critically ill patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Both groups received 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate three times daily; the intervention group also received propolis gargle three times daily for 15 days. Oral mucosa scores did not differ significantly at baseline, but were significantly lower in the propolis group at days 7 and 15 (p<0.001). The authors note that the additional oral-care exposure means the independent effect of propolis cannot be determined.
Key findings
- Oral mucosa scores were significantly lower with added propolis at the 7- and 15-day follow-ups (p<0.001).
- The groups had no significant difference in oral mucosa scores at baseline.
Why it matters
Oral mucositis is a relevant outcome in critically ill patients, and this trial suggests that an additional oral-care intervention may reduce mucosal scores in patients with COPD. However, the comparison does not isolate propolis from the effect of receiving more oral care, so the result is not definitive evidence of a propolis-specific benefit.
What to keep in mind
The intervention group received additional oral-care exposure, so the independent effect of propolis cannot be determined. The trial included 60 patients.