Bacteria of the oral cavity of a future mother can get through the blood and amniotic fluid into the fetus. This increases the risk of premature birth, low birthweight at birth and various infections in the newborn.

The author of the study, Cecilia Gonzalez-Marin and colleagues from the University of Queen Mary in London, tested gastric aspirates (stomach contents and amniotic fluid in it) in 57 infants and found 46 different bacterial species in the samples.

The most common of them probably came from the vagina; However, two species were characteristic for the oral cavity.

These specific bacteria, Granulicatella elegans and Streptococcus sinensis often enter the bloodstream and cause diseases such as infective endocarditis.

The study of stomach contents in infants, according to scientists, will help to make a microbial profile. Typically, this analysis is performed in difficult childbirth or at risk of infection. They are used as an alternative analysis of the amniotic fluid, Gonzalez-Marin. Scientists are going to use DNA-methods to determine the origin of bacteria health. Sumy. Ua.

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