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Preoperative and Postoperative Salivary Bacterial Counts in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective
Hiromi Honda1, Madoka Funahara1, Kanako Nose2
1School of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, JPN.
Insights
Salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery decreased post-operation, likely due to antibiotics. Higher counts were observed in older infants with erupting teeth and longer surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Oral microbiology
- Infectious disease prevention
Background:
- Postoperative pneumonia is a risk for infants after cardiac surgery.
- Limited data exists on perioperative oral bacteria in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.
- This study investigates salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess preoperative and postoperative salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
- To identify factors influencing changes in salivary bacterial counts.
- To inform strategies for preventing surgical site infections and pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- Salivary bacterial counts were determined by culturing in 105 infants (average age 20 months) before and after cardiac surgery.
- Factors associated with bacterial count changes were analyzed.
- Patients received systemic antimicrobials preoperatively.
Main Results:
- Postoperative salivary bacterial counts were higher in older infants, those with erupting teeth, and those with longer surgical durations.
- The average bacterial count decreased significantly from 10^4.53 CFU/mL preoperatively to 10^3.68 CFU/mL postoperatively.
- Bacterial reduction was more pronounced in infants without tooth eruption, attributed to systemic antibiotics.
Conclusions:
- Salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery decrease postoperatively, influenced by antibiotics.
- Further research is needed on bacterial flora and perioperative oral care.
- Findings offer insights for developing new strategies to prevent infections in pediatric surgical patients.
Introduction:
Postoperative pneumonia may develop in infants after cardiac surgery; however, only a few reports are available on perioperative oral bacteria in infants. This study aimed to examine preoperative and postoperative salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
Materials And Methods:
The number of bacteria in the saliva of 105 infants (average age: 20 months) who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease was determined by culturing before and after surgery. Factors associated with changes in the bacterial count were further examined. Patients received systemic antimicrobials for an average of four days immediately before surgery.
Results:
Postoperative salivary bacterial counts were higher in older patients, who had erupting teeth and had longer surgical times. The average number of colonies before surgery was 104.53 CFU/mL; on the day after surgery, this number significantly decreased to 103.68 CFU/mL. The rate of reduction was especially high in infants without tooth eruption. The total number of bacterial colonies in saliva decreased after surgery, most likely because of the use of systemically administered antibiotics, and the rate of decrease was particularly high in infants without tooth eruptions.
Conclusion:
This study examined the preoperative and postoperative salivary bacterial counts in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. In the future, we would like to further examine bacterial flora and the effects of perioperative oral care. This study provides insights into the development of new strategies for preventing and treating surgical site infections and pneumonia in children.
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