Summary
Why is oral health important in the prevention of respiratory diseases in times of pandemic? The reason is simple, any respiratory disease in the elderly could eventually trigger a positive COVID-19 alarm, and this could be caused by another reason, not to mention the increased risk of having a previous respiratory-type illness in times of pandemic, over everything, in a population of risk like the institutionalized older people. For this reason, the prevention of oral hygiene in older people through a Protocol that proposes guidelines to be followed in long-stay establishments for older adults, is essential in the prevention of aspiration Pneumonia. It is worth mentioning that, before the emergence of COVID-19, Pneumonia was considered the main cause of death from infectious diseases in the Chilean population and the first specific cause of death in those over 80 years of age.
KEYWORDS: aged, homes for the aged, aspiration pneumonia, COVID-19, guideline for oral health.
How to cite this article
DÍAZ, M. F. & HUERTA, F. J. Oral Hygiene Protocol for LongTerm Establishments for Older Adults in a State of Pandemic COVID-19. Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention. Int. J. Odontostomat., 14(4):508-512, 2020.
