Gum Disease Bacteria May Send Newborns To NICU More Often
June 9, 2009

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - The bacteria that cause periodontal (gum) disease may also affect a newborn's need for intensive care, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, did the study. They studied 650 babies. All were born to women who took part in a study on oral health and pregnancy outcomes.

Forty-five of the babies were admitted to a hospital neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Babies who had been exposed to gum disease bacteria before birth were more likely to be admitted to a NICU. About 11% of these babies were admitted, compared with 5% of babies who were not exposed to these bacteria.

The gum disease bacteria came from the babies' mothers. They were transferred through the umbilical cord.

The researchers tested each baby's umbilical cord blood for antibodies against these bacteria. Antibodies are made by the immune system. They kill harmful bacteria.

Babies born early are more likely to be admitted to the NICU. But the researchers took this into account. Even so, babies exposed to gum disease bacteria were about twice as likely to be in the NICU.

They also were more likely to stay longer than other babies. They were 2.4 times as likely to stay more than 3 days, and 3.3 times as likely to stay more than a week.

The researchers also tested umbilical cords for C-reactive protein. This is a protein that the body makes to fight infection. Babies with high levels of C-reactive protein were not more likely to be admitted to the NICU.

Several studies have suggested that women with periodontal disease are at greater risk for some problems during pregnancy. These include preterm birth and having a low-weight baby.

The study appears in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology.