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Abstract

One hundred and ninety-seven patients with advanced cancer admitted to Holme Tower Marie Curie Centre, Penarth, Wales entered a double blind, single phase placebo-controlled clinical trial of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouth spray for the control of oral symptoms. The sprays were administered by nursing staff twice daily for two weeks. A detailed questionnaire was completed and the mouth examined at entry and after one and two weeks of spray usage. Oral rinses and imprint cultures were collected at the same time intervals to monitor the effects of each spray on oral carriage of yeasts, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. The results suggested possible limited activity of a chlorhexidine mouth spray after two weeks of use in decreasing oral yeasts, although the difference from placebo did not reach statistical significance. In addition, both active and placebo sprays provided some patients with relief from oral dryness. Overall there was no evidence for efficacy of a chlorhexidine oral spray in patients with advanced cancer.

Keywords

dental care neoplasms oral health palliative treatment terminal care

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A clinical trial of chlorhexidine oral spray in terminally ill cancer patients

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