BMC Infectious Diseases (Jan 2009)

The vaginal microflora in relation to gingivitis

  • Weibel Marianne,
  • Hirschi Regula,
  • Persson Rigmor,
  • Vaneechoutte Mario,
  • Verhelst Rita,
  • Hitti Jane,
  • Persson Rutger,
  • Rothen Marilynn,
  • Temmerman Marleen,
  • Paul Kathleen,
  • Eschenbach David

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-9-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background Gingivitis has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcome (APO). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been associated with APO. We assessed if bacterial counts in BV is associated with gingivitis suggesting a systemic infectious susceptibilty. Methods Vaginal samples were collected from 180 women (mean age 29.4 years, SD ± 6.8, range: 18 to 46), and at least six months after delivery, and assessed by semi-quantitative DNA-DNA checkerboard hybridization assay (74 bacterial species). BV was defined by Gram stain (Nugent criteria). Gingivitis was defined as bleeding on probing at ≥ 20% of tooth sites. Results A Nugent score of 0–3 (normal vaginal microflora) was found in 83 women (46.1%), and a score of > 7 (BV) in 49 women (27.2%). Gingivitis was diagnosed in 114 women (63.3%). Women with a diagnosis of BV were more likely to have gingivitis (p = 0.01). Independent of gingival conditions, vaginal bacterial counts were higher (p Prevotella bivia (p Prevotella disiens (p P. bivia, P. disiens, M. curtisii and M. mulieris (all at the p 1.0 × 104 cells) and a diagnosis of gingivitis was 3.9 for P. bivia (95% CI 1.5–5.7, p P. disiens (95%CI: 1.8–7.5, p P. bivia (odds ratio: 5.3, 95%CI: 2.6 to 10.4, p P. disiens (odds ratio: 4.4, 95% CI: 2.2 to 8.8, p Conclusion Higher vaginal bacterial counts can be found in women with BV and gingivitis in comparison to women with BV but not gingivitis. P. bivia and P. disiens may be of specific significance in a relationship between vaginal and gingival infections.