A pilot study of the association between cariogenic oral bacteria and preterm birth.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the associations between preterm birth and low birth weight and maternal caries history, maternal periodontal status, and salivary levels of mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli.


METHODS
This study was a matched case-control study in women during their pregnancy or up to 8 weeks after delivery.


METHODS
Thirty-four women delivering before 37 weeks gestation were recruited along with 73 term controls matched for age and race/ethnicity. Demographic and obstetric information was collected from questionnaires and medical records and oral examinations along with commercial salivary tests were completed within the study groups.


METHODS
The main outcome variables were the preterm birth and low birth weight status. The independent variables measured were the salivary levels of Lactobacilli and mutans streptococci and the caries and periodontal status of the subjects.


RESULTS
The odds ratio comparing low levels of bacteria in preterm mothers and controls was statistically significant for Lactobacilli (odds ratio (OR) = 3.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27 to 10.00) and almost significant for mutans streptococci (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 0.95 to 8.33). Clinical caries and periodontal disease measures did not differ significantly between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitation of our study, low levels of Lactobacilli in saliva were found to be associated with preterm birth.
Durand
R
R
Département de Santé Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada. robert.durand@umontreal.ca
Gunselman
E L
EL
Hodges
J S
JS
Diangelis
A J
AJ
Michalowicz
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult