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Oral flora in acute stroke patients: A prospective exploratory observational study
Elizabeth Boaden1, Mary Lyons1, Sim K Singhrao2
1Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Gerodontology
|May 26, 2017
Summary
Stroke patients show diverse oral bacteria, with Streptococcus species being common. Oral health declined, and infections occurred, but specific bacterial patterns linked to these outcomes were not identified in the first two weeks post-stroke.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neurology
- Oral Health
Background:
- Stroke often causes dysphagia, increasing aspiration pneumonia risk.
- Altered oral flora post-stroke may contribute to systemic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize oral bacterial profiles in stroke patients within 2 weeks of stroke.
- To assess oral cavity condition and infection development.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 77 participants over 9 months.
- Collected oral swabs and saliva from 50 participants at 3 time points over 14 days.
- Used molecular identification for bacterial phylotypes from pooled DNA.
Main Results:
- Identified 103 bacterial phylotypes; 29 were novel to the Human Oral Microbiome Database.
- Streptococcal species, particularly Streptococcus salivarius, were most common.
- Oral cavity condition worsened, and 30% of patients developed infections.
Conclusions:
- Stroke patients exhibit high oral bacterial diversity.
- No clear patterns linked specific bacteria to oral condition or infections were identified.
- Further research is needed to understand oral microbiome changes post-stroke.
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