Oral colonization of Streptococcus mutans in six-month-old predentate infants.
We hypothesize that S. mutans colonization occurs more frequently in pre-term children due to their relative immaturity. In this study of 172 predentate, six-month-old infants, we found that 50% of pre-term and 60% of full-term children harbored S. mutans. The colonization was confirmed by repeat sampling. Although there were minor differences, factors associated with S. mutans infection in pre-term and full-term infants were generally similar. In both groups, increased frequency of sugar was ranked the most important factor (p < 0.001), followed by breast-feeding (p < 0.001), and habits which allowed saliva transfer from mother to infant (p < 0.01). By contrast, non-colonization of S. mutans was associated with multiple courses of antibiotics (p < 0.001). Compared with pre-term children, there were higher percentages of full-term who had night feedings and consumed sugar during sleep times. Mothers with infected infants had S. mutans levels > 5 x 10(5) CFU/mL saliva (p < 0.001), poorer oral hygiene, more periodontal disease, and lower socio-economic status (p < 0.02) and snacked frequently (p < 0.001), compared with mothers with non-infected infants.
Wan
A K
AK
University of Queensland, School of Dentistry, Brisbane, Australia.
Seow
W K
WK
Purdie
D M
DM
Bird
P S
PS
Walsh
L J
LJ
Tudehope
D I
DI
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016015:Logistic Models; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013391:Sucking Behavior
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose