Prevention of the Transmission of 'Streptococcus mutans' from Mothers toChildren. Final Progress Report

摘要

A clinical study was conducted to develop procedures for eliminating or reducingmaternal oral Streptococcus mutans infection. The study will consist of Phase I and Phase II. Phase I of the contract was designed to determine whether the restoration of all caries lesions will reduce the salivary levels of S. mutans significantly below 25,000 cfu/mL. An Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract dated 5/31/84 authorized the change in the cut-off value of S. mutans levels in maternal saliva from original 250,000 cfu/mL to 25,000. The second phase specified the recruitment of at least 60 mother-infant pairs in which mothers were selected based upon pre-defined entry qualifications in terms of household, number of other children, caries experience and exposure to fluoride and antibiotics. These criteria are listed under Phase 1. All entry criteria were met. In addition, the study population was to have caries histories from low to high. The levels of S. mutans in unstimulated saliva from study mothers > or = 25,000 cfu/mL was adopted as a screening criteria. A total of 75 mother-infant pairs met the original screening criteria. Through attrition and loss to follow-up, 38 mother-child pairs remained in the study for approximately 5 years.