Early oral colonization of streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli species in infants: Investigating the relationship with maternal and environmental factors, from birth through the sixth month.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the presence of () and species () of newborn-mother pairs using the real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

METHOD

Subjects were selected from the patients followed in the Neonatology Clinic of Akdeniz University's Faculty of Medicine between the years 2017-2018. First samples collected within 48 hours after birth, and second samples were at six months. The samples were analyzed for the presence of and using qRT-PCR. Mothers' smoking habits, education level, occupation, oral hygiene habits, DMFT scores and dietary history; Babies' delivery type, birth weight, feeding type, oral hygiene practices, feeding habits, bottle usage, pacifier usage, consumption of sugary foods, were also recorded. The effect of factors related to both mothers and infants was examined comparatively.

RESULTS

DNA was detectable in 87% and DNA was detected in 37% mothers, while it was undetected in 63% mothers at the first sampling. was detected in 37% and, while was detected in 5% of the newborns in the first 48 hours of their life. At the second sampling, the and levels in infants have increased, while there has been no significant change in mothers. A significant relationship was found only between the increase in in infants and the presence of erupted teeth.

CONCLUSION

and were able to colonize on the oral mucosal surfaces of edentulous newborns, with the counts of both bacteria increasing significantly with tooth eruption.