[Count of salivary Streptococci mutans in pregnant women of the metropolitan region of Chile: cross-sectional study].
BACKGROUND
Salivary Streptococci mutans contamination is considered the main microbiological risk factor for the initiation of caries.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the oral health of pregnant women, counting Salivary Streptococci mutants.


METHODS
One hundred seventy four pregnant women, in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, aged 27 +/- 5 years old, consulting at a public primary health center, were studied. Puerperal women that had their delivery two months before, were studied as a control group. Salivary samples were obtained and Streptococci mutans colonies were counted using quantitative and semiquantitative methods.


RESULTS
There was a good concordance between both counting methods. No differences in Streptococci mutans counts were observed among the three groups of pregnant women, but the latter as a group had higher counts than puerperal women. Women with more than 5 caries had also higher counts.


CONCLUSIONS
Semiquantitative Streptococci mutans counts are easy, rapid and non invasive and have a good concordance with quantitative counts in saliva.
Villagrán
E
E
Area de Odontología Socio-Preventiva, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Linossier
A
A
Donoso
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014505:Urban Population
Recuento de Streptococci mutans en la saliva de mujeres embarazadas de la Región Metropolitana: estudio transversal.