Table 1 Search strategy for MEDLINE via PubMed

#1

“CRITICAL ILLNESS”[Mesh]

#2

(“critical$” adj5 “ill$”)[tw]

#3

(“depend$” adj5 “patient$”)[tw]

#4

( “INTENSIVE CARE”)[Mesh]

#5

(“intensive care” OR “intensive-care” OR “critical care” OR “critical-care”) [Mesh]

#6

ICU [Mesh] or CCU [tw]

#7

((“intubat$” or “ventilat$”) adj5 “patient$”) [tw]

#8

#1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4 OR #5 OR #6 OR #7

#9

( “PNEUMONIA, VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED”)[Mesh]

#10

pneumonia [tw]

#11

VAP [tw]

#12

“nosocomial infection”[tw]

#13

#9 OR #10 OR #11 OR #12

#14

(“ORAL HYGIENE”)[Mesh]

#15

(DENTIFRICES)[Mesh]

#16

(MOUTHWASHES)[Mesh]

#17

(“ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS, LOCAL”)[Mesh]

#18

“Cetylpyridinium”[Mesh]

#19

“Chlorhexidine”[Mesh]

#20

“Povidone-Iodine”[Mesh]

#21

(“oral care” OR “mouth care” OR “oral hygien$” OR oral-hygien$ OR “dental hygien$”)[tw]

#22

(“mouthwash$” OR “mouth-wash$” OR “mouth-rins$” OR “mouthrins$” OR “oral rins$” OR “oral-rins$” OR “toothpaste$” OR “dentifrice$” OR “toothbrush$” OR “chlorhexidine$” OR “betadine$” OR “triclosan$” OR “cepacol” OR “Corsodyl” OR “Peridex” OR “Hibident” OR “Prexidine” OR “Parodexor Chlorexil” OR “Peridont” OR “Eludril” OR “Perioxidin” OR “Chlorohex” OR “Savacol” OR “Periogard” OR “Chlorhexamed” OR “Nolvasan” OR “Sebidin” OR “Tubulicid” OR “hibitane”) [tw]

#23

(“antiseptic$” OR “antiinfect$” OR “local microbicide$” OR “topical microbicide$”) [tw]

#24

#14 OR #15 OR #16 OR #17 OR #18 OR #19 OR #20 OR #21 OR #22 OR #23

#25

randomized controlled trial [pt]

#26

controlled clinical trial [pt]

#27

randomized [tiab]

#28

placebo [tiab]

#29

clinical trials as topic [mesh: noexp]

#30

randomly [tiab]

#31

trial [ti]

#32

#25 OR #26 OR #27 OR #28 OR #29 OR #30 OR #31

#33

#8 AND #13 AND #24 AND #32