Comparative study of microflora between birth canal and new born oral cavity

ABSTRACT

Background: New-born acquires mother’s microbiome from the birth canal during the delivery process and these bacteria then colonize in the gut. Studying the oral microbiome of infants offer a good perspective for us to understand the gut microbiome disruption caused by C-section. A previous study of three-month-old infants reported a higher amount of bacterial taxa of the oral microbiota in vaginally delivered infants than the ones with another birth mode. Aim: Comparison of microflora between the birth canal and the oral cavity of a newborn in Caesarean delivery. Materials and methods: 30 pregnant women selected for the study. Parturient canal samples obtained prior to delivery and infant’s oral cavity oral samples obtained immediately after birth. Samples transported to the lab for microbiological assays and data tabulated and statistically analyzed using Chi-Square Test. Results: E.coli was observed in 21.1% (N=7) in the vaginal swab whereas its occurrence in buccal smear was 10.3% (N=3). The chi-square test of independence was statistically insignificant (p> 0.05). The staphylococcus was observed in 44.8 (N= 13) of vaginal swab and 37.9% (N=11) of buccal smear and again the difference was statistically insignificant. The presence of pus cells was 31% (N=9) in vaginal swab and 10.3% (N=3) in the buccal smear. Conclusion: A significant number of mother-child pairs showed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, and E.coli. However, Klebsiella and pus cells were occasionally found.