Both Zataria Multiflora (ZM) and Chlorhexidine (CHG) and CHG alone reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence and improve the oral health status of mechanically ventilated patients. However, the combination of ZM with CHG is more effective. The combination of ZM with CHG appears to be an effective strategy for maintaining oral health and reducing the incidence of VAP in ICU patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.

This study is a single-blind clinical trial involving 120 mechanically ventilated ICU patients. They were randomly assigned into two groups.

One group received Zataria multiflora 0.2% mouthwash and chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% mouthwash (ZM+CHG group), while the control group received chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% mouthwash (CHG group), both administered twice daily for five days.

Clinical pulmonary infection, oral health, and oral mucosal-plaque condition were assessed using the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), Beck oral assessment scale (BOAS), and mucosal-plaque score (MPS), respectively.

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