Oral Microbiome and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Intrauterine infection plays a pivotal role in adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal sepsis, and pregnancy-associated hypertension and diabetes. Development of culture-independent microbial detection technologies have greatly advanced our knowledge of microbes implicated in intrauterine infection. Increasing evidence demonstrates the involvement of oral bacteria, especially Fusobacterium nucleatum, in adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review summarizes the oral bacteria detected in intrauterine cavity, their route of dissemination and consequences, and the use of omega-3 fatty acids to suppress microbial-induced placental inflammation.