In European ICUs oral care is considered very important. It is experienced as a task that is difficult to perform, and that does not necessarily succeed in ensuring oral health in patients with prolonged intubation. Oral care consists primarily of mouth washes. The use of toothbrushes should be given more attention.

The non-surgical periodontal treatment causes a decrease in the levels of some circulating proinflammatory cytokines and may be associated with a decrease in insulin resistance in the obese population.

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Opportunities exist to optimize knowledge of central venous catheter-related infection prevention among European ICU nurses. We recommend including central venous catheter-related infection prevention guidelines in educational curricula and continuing refresher education programs.

B-VAP occurs later during intensive care unit stay, is more frequent in previously hospitalized patients, is more often caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and is independently associated with increased intensive care unit mortality.

Moderate to severe ID still exists in 27.8% of the Turkish population, which is much better compared to 1997 and 2002 surveys (i.e. 58%, 38.9%, respectively). The follow-up monitoring study (in 2007) demonstrated that ID has been eliminated in 20 of 30 cities surveyed, and median UIC was 130 microg/l. ID has been eliminated in most of the urban population, however, it is still an important problem in rural areas and in particular geographical regions, which should be the target of future programs.

TA-GVHD is probably more prevalent than reported in the literature. It must be considered in the differential diagnosis, if the patient with a recent transfusion history admits with fever, skin rash, abnormal liver function tests, and pancytopenia associated with hypoplastic marrow. In rural areas where gamma irradiation is not possible, the overall policy of transfusion (e.g., restriction of transfusion indications and alternative methods for pathogen inactivation) should be reassessed.

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