Bacteria may be at fault in certain preterm births

February 7, 2011

The fetal inflammatory response to bacteria that colonize the placenta during

pregnancy could contribute to the onset of preterm labor, fetal injury and

complications, according to research published online.

“Placental colonization by specific groups of organisms can increase or decrease

the risk of a systemic inflammatory condition,” researchers from Harvard Medical

School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Boston said.

They analyzed protein biomarkers in dry blood spots obtained from 527 newborns

delivered by cesarean section. The researchers cultured and identified the

bacteria from their respective placentas. Placentas colonized primarily by

microorganisms commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis were found to be

associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory protein in newborns.

“Prevotella and Gardnerella species, anaerobic streptococci, peptostreptococci,

and genital mycoplasmas each appeared to be associated with a different pattern

of elevated blood levels of inflammation-related proteins,” the researchers

wrote.

In contrast, colonization by Lactobacillus species of bacteria was associated

with lower levels of proinflammatory proteins.

“Our data suggest that the targeting of placental colonization by specific drugs

or probiotics during early pregnancy may hold promise for preventing not only

preterm birth but also the devastating and far-reaching inflammatory

consequences in premature newborns,” study researcher Onderdonk, PhD,

said in a press release about the study.

Disclosure: The study was supported by a cooperative agreement with the National

Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, with subcontracts to Dr.

Onderdonk’s laboratory for microbiological assessment. Support was also provided

by a center grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human

Development.

The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures

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