Objective Characterise oral health, and the presence in the oral cavity of pathogenic non-oral microorganisms potentially associated with nosocomial infections and antimicrobial resistance in non-intubated patients admitted to a Brazilian university hospital. Materials and methods An intraoral examination and oral swab were performed on hospitalized individuals at three different times, T1 (within 48 h of hospitalization), T2 (48 h after T1) and T3 (7 days after hospitalization). The oral health status was defined by the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and Tongue Coating Status (TCS). The swabs were processed and microorganisms potentially related to nosocomial infections were phenotypically identified through colony morphology, staining and microscopy. Results The most prevalent microorganisms were Escherichia coli , Enterococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus . The oral health status was considered median, and the tongue coating index was considered high throughout the study period. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic non-oral microorganisms was high and constant from the first 48 h to the seventh day of hospitalization. Conclusions The results point out that the mouth can act as a reservoir of epidemiologically important pathogens within hospital settings, even in patients without mechanical ventilation, thus increasing the risk of nosocomial infections in susceptible individuals. KEY MESSAGES The present study investigated the oral health status and the presence of pathogenic non-oral microorganisms in the oral cavity of patients hospitalized in the ward, non-intubated and mostly independent of self-care. The presence in the mouth of microorganisms related to the epidemiology of nosocomial infections and resistance to antimicrobials was high and constant from the first 48 h to the 7th day of hospitalization. The results of this study point out that the mouth can act as a reservoir of epidemiologically important pathogens within hospital settings even in patients without mechanical ventilation, increasing the risk of nosocomial infections in susceptible individuals.

Xerostomia is defined as the perception of dry mouth, and dysgeusia, as a change in taste. Both are common complaints in the elderly, especially among those making use of polypharmacy drug combinations. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of xerostomia and dysgeusia and to investigate their association with polypharmacy in the elderly. Methods: older people under follow-up at the Multidisciplinary Elderly Center of the University Hospital of Brasília were interviewed and asked about health problems, medications used, presence of xerostomia and dysgeusia. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of the symptoms surveyed. The chi-square test was used to investigate the relationship between xerostomia and dysgeusia and polypharmacy. Secondary associations were performed using binomial logistic regression. Results: Ninety-six older people were evaluated and of these, 62.5% had xerostomia and 21.1%, had dysgeusia. The average number of medications used was 4±3 medications per individual. Polypharmacy was associated with xerostomia but not dysgeusia. It was possible to associate xerostomia with the use of antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion: Xerostomia was a frequent complaint among elderly people making use of polypharmacy, especially those using antihypertensives. Antihypertensives and antidepressants were used most drugs by the elderly and exhibited interactions with drugs most prescribed in Dentistry. Two contraindications were found between fluconazole and mirtazapine; and between erythromycin and simvastatin.

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Introdução: O processo de envelhecimento requer atenção multidisciplinar, em especial dos profissionais da saúde, visto que pessoas idosas são frequentemente atingidas por multicomorbidades e se encontram expostas à polifarmácia, fator predisponente a interações medicamentosas e reações adversas como xerostomia e disgeusia. Além disso, determinar a prevalência dos medicamentos utilizados pelos participantes e mapear as possíveis interações entre os medicamentos utilizados com aqueles mais prescritos em Odontologia. Objetivo: O objetivo principal desse estudo foi determinar a prevalência de xerostomia e disgeusia e investigar sua associação à polifarmácia em idosos. Os objetivos secundários foram determinar a prevalência dos medicamentos mais utilizados pelos participantes do estudo e mapear as interações medicamentosas com os medicamentos mais prescritos em odontologia. Material e Métodos: idosos sob acompanhamento no Centro Multidisciplinar do Idoso do Hospital Universitário de Brasília foram entrevistados e questionados sobre problemas de saúde, medicamentos utilizados, presença de xerostomia e disgeusia. A estatística descritiva foi utilizada para determinação da prevalência dos sintomas pesquisados. O teste do qui-quadrado foi utilizado para investigar a associação entre xerostomia e disgeusia à polifarmácia. Associações secundárias foram realizadas por meio de regressão logística binomial. Através da utilização da base de dados Micromedex Drug Interactions® e Dynamed® verificou-se a possibilidade de interação com os medicamentos mais prescritos em Odontologia.. Resultados: Noventa e seis idosos foram avaliados e destes, 62,5% apresentaram xerostomia e 21,1% disgeusia. A média do número de medicamentos utilizados foi de 4±3 medicamentos por indivíduo. A polifarmácia foi associada à xerostomia, mas não à disgeusia. Os medicamentos mais utilizados pelos participantes foram os anti-hipertensivos (losartana e anlodipino) e hipoglicemiantes (metformina), seguido dos antidepressivos. Considerando os medicamentos utilizados pelos participantes do nosso estudo, foram encontradas interações medicamentosas relevantes para a prática odontológica, inclusive algumas contraindicações como: sinvastatina e eritromicina, fluconazol e a mirtazapina; e anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais e diuréticos tiazídicos Conclusão: A xerostomia foi queixa frequente entre idosos sob polifarmácia, em especial sob uso de hipotensores.