Better dental care by patients at Genesis Medical Center in the Quad Cities will mean fewer infections. That's the goal of a new project announced Friday, and supported by a grant from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation.
Genesis Registered Nurse, Annette Holst, says the 227,000 dollar grant will allow Genesis to buy supplies, and educate the staff and patients on the "mouth-body link."
"Most of the bacteria that comes into our body comes in through the mouth and you can micro-aspirate those organisms and they get into your lung and cause pneumonia. And that's what people succumb to sometimes when they're in the hospital especially."
She says this link is responsible for causing pneumonia for 120 to 160 patients a year at Genesis.
Infection Prevention Coordinator, Lisa Caffery, says the hospital already works with patients in intensive care to brush their teeth. Now, it can expand that program to the rest of their patients.
