06/04/2010 Association of Streptococcus mutans Infection and Oral Developmental Nodules in Pre-dentate Infants

Resident: Hencler
Date: 06/04/2010

Article title: Association of Streptococcus mutans Infection and Oral Developmental Nodules in Pre-dentate Infants
Author(s): Wan Et Al
Journal: J Dent Res 80(10): 1945-1948, 2001

Major topic: Streptococcus mutans Infection and Oral Developmental Nodules
Type of Article: Observational

Main Purpose:
Investigate a possible association between Streptococcus mutans Infection and Oral Developmental Nodules in Pre-dentate Infants

Overview of method of research:
60 pre-term and 128 full-term infants were examined at 3 and 6 months old for oral developmental nodules and salivary samples were taken and cultured for S. mutans levels.

Findings:
56 infants had S. mutans. Full-term infants were 2.1 times likely to have S. mutans. Oral nodules were present in 103 infants and less prevalent in pre-term infants. Of the 56 infants that had S. mutans, 47 (84%) also had nodules. S. mutans infection was strongly associated with nodules. Infants with S. mutans were grouped according to their bacteria levels and compared to the numbers of nodules found. There was a positive “dose response” association between S. mutans and nodules

Key points in the article discussion:
The present study showed that S. mutans could be isolated in pre-dentate infants as early as 3 months old. The level of S. mutans found in each of the 56 infants was relatively low and is likely due the lack of teeth. This study found that the potential for infection of a pre-dentate infant is proportional to the S. mutans levels in the mother. Full-term children were found to have a higher prevalence of S. mutans probably due to the fact that pre-term children having less personal contact with their mothers or more likely that their oral tissues are less mature and are not optimal for colonization. Pre-term infants were found to have a lower prevalence of developmental oral nodules which may be related to delayed or disrupted fetal development, resulting in less epithelial maturation and a reduced propensity to form epithelial remnants and microcysts. Analysis of the data showed a strong dose-response relationship between nodules and S. mutans infection, and risk analyses suggested that those with oral nodules were over 7 times more likely to be colonized with S. mutans. Since full-term children showed a higher prevalence of nodule, this may explain their higher infection rate of S. mutans compared with pre-term children who had a lower prevalence of nodules.

Summary of conclusions:
The association between nodules and S. mutans may be related to a reduced turnover of mucosal cells which encourage developmental nodule formation and also better adhesion and retention of S. mutans.

Assessment of article:
Interesting article. After reading this it seems there may be more of an individual association between the reduced turnover of mucosal cells and nodules or S. mutans, rather than an association between S. mutans and nodules. I don’t think this research showed a proportional relationship where oral nodules may be associated with S. mutans infection. There may be wishful shenanigans afoot.