Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria
Preterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is conflicting evidence to support such an outcome as illustrated by...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2010-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Oral Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.journaloforalmicrobiology.net/index.php/jom/article/view/5779/6538 |
| _version_ | 1828469536399032320 |
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| author | Elizabeth Shira Davenport |
| author_facet | Elizabeth Shira Davenport |
| author_sort | Elizabeth Shira Davenport |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Preterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is conflicting evidence to support such an outcome as illustrated by descriptive, case control and randomised controlled trials involving pregnant women from across the world, using different measurement tools to determine the level of periodontal disease. Whilst considering the literature, there is evidence for both arguments, based on the effect of periodontal inflammatory by products. Bacteria associated with periodontal disease are not dissimilar to those known to be associated with genito-urinary bacterial infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Several groups have demonstrated the apparent translocation of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonus gingivalis, Treponema denticola to the foetal placental unit whereby a maternal or foetal response has been detected resulting in premature birth or low birthweight. The normal process of parturition involves a cascade of events including a build-up of inflammatory mediators as linked to inflammation, whereby the maternal environment becomes hostile and threatens the well-being of the infant, and the foetus expelled. The question remains therefore, is there a greater risk of delivering a PTLBW infant when the mother has detectable periodontal disease, or is the release of inflammatory mediators and their translocation via the haematogenous route sufficient to induce a poor pregnancy outcome? The data investigated would suggest that there is a positive outcome when certain oral gram-negative bacteria create a cumulative effect sufficient to trigger early delivery, which represents the final straw to result in preterm or low birthweight delivery. There is equally sufficient epidemiological evidence that does not support this outcome, but it is agreed that maintaining oral health during pregnancy is beneficial to the mother and her infant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:40:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1202f3424b6640be9363a83f50350656 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-2297 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:40:45Z |
| publishDate | 2010-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Oral Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1202f3424b6640be9363a83f503506562022-12-22T01:20:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Oral Microbiology2000-22972010-12-01201710.3402/jom.v2i0.5779Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteriaElizabeth Shira DavenportPreterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is conflicting evidence to support such an outcome as illustrated by descriptive, case control and randomised controlled trials involving pregnant women from across the world, using different measurement tools to determine the level of periodontal disease. Whilst considering the literature, there is evidence for both arguments, based on the effect of periodontal inflammatory by products. Bacteria associated with periodontal disease are not dissimilar to those known to be associated with genito-urinary bacterial infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Several groups have demonstrated the apparent translocation of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonus gingivalis, Treponema denticola to the foetal placental unit whereby a maternal or foetal response has been detected resulting in premature birth or low birthweight. The normal process of parturition involves a cascade of events including a build-up of inflammatory mediators as linked to inflammation, whereby the maternal environment becomes hostile and threatens the well-being of the infant, and the foetus expelled. The question remains therefore, is there a greater risk of delivering a PTLBW infant when the mother has detectable periodontal disease, or is the release of inflammatory mediators and their translocation via the haematogenous route sufficient to induce a poor pregnancy outcome? The data investigated would suggest that there is a positive outcome when certain oral gram-negative bacteria create a cumulative effect sufficient to trigger early delivery, which represents the final straw to result in preterm or low birthweight delivery. There is equally sufficient epidemiological evidence that does not support this outcome, but it is agreed that maintaining oral health during pregnancy is beneficial to the mother and her infant.http://www.journaloforalmicrobiology.net/index.php/jom/article/view/5779/6538pretermlow birthweightperiodontal diseaseoral bacteria |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth Shira Davenport Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria Journal of Oral Microbiology preterm low birthweight periodontal disease oral bacteria |
| title | Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| title_full | Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| title_short | Preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| title_sort | preterm low birthweight and the role of oral bacteria |
| topic | preterm low birthweight periodontal disease oral bacteria |
| url | http://www.journaloforalmicrobiology.net/index.php/jom/article/view/5779/6538 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elizabethshiradavenport pretermlowbirthweightandtheroleoforalbacteria |