Salivary Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 2 and Lactobacillus casei levels predict pregnancy outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Gravida's poor periodontal health is emerging as a modifiable independent risk factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight.


METHODS
To test the hypothesis that oral bacteria other than periodontal pathogens are also associated with pregnancy outcomes, specific oral bacterial levels measured during pregnancy were evaluated in relation to gestational age and birth weight while controlling for demographic, medical, and dental variables. The study population consisted of 297 predominantly African- American women who were pregnant for the first time. The salivary bacterial levels evaluated were Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus sanguinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies (gsp) 1 and 2, total streptococci, and total cultivable organisms.


RESULTS
For 1 unit increase in log(10) A. naeslundii gsp 2 levels, there was a 60 gm decrease in birth weight (beta = -59.7 g; SE = 29.1; P = 0.04), and a 0.17 week decrease in gestational age (beta = -0.17 wk; SE = 0.09; P = 0.05). In contrast, per 1 unit increase in log(10) L. casei levels, there was a 42 gm increase in birth weight (beta = 42.2 g; SE = 19.3; P = 0.03), and a 0.13 week increase in gestational age (beta = 0.13 week; SE = 0.06; P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that other oral bacterial species can also be related to pregnancy outcomes in addition to previously reported periodontal pathogens. These organism levels may not only predict poor pregnancy outcomes, but also be used as modifiable risk factors in reducing prematurity and low birth weight.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA. Ad75@nyu.edu
Ananda P
AP
Dasanayake
Yihong
Y
Li
Howard
H
Wiener
John D
JD
Ruby
Men-Jean
MJ
Lee
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*