Reporting of Perinatal Outcomes in Probiotic Randomized Controlled Trials. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of probiotic microorganisms in clinical practice has increased in recent years and a significant number of pregnant women are regular consumers of these products. However, probiotics might modulate the immune system, and whether or not this modulation is beneficial for perinatal outcomes is unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the reporting of perinatal outcomes in randomized controlled trials including women supplemented with probiotic microorganisms during pregnancy. We also analyzed the effects that the administration of probiotic microorganisms exerts on perinatal outcomes. In the review, 46 papers were included and 25 were meta-analyzed. Reporting of perinatal outcomes was highly inconsistent across the studies. Only birth weight, cesarean section, and weeks of gestation were reported in more than 50% of the studies. Random effects meta-analysis results showed that the administration of probiotic microorganisms during pregnancy did not have any a positive or negative impact on the perinatal outcomes evaluated. Subgroup analysis results at the strain level were not significantly different from main analysis results. The administration of probiotic microorganisms does not appear to influence perinatal outcomes. Nonetheless, future probiotic studies conducted in pregnant women should report probiotic strains and perinatal outcomes in order to shed light upon probiotics’ effects on pregnancy outcomes.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (Project FIS-ISCIII) P117/0230

Level of knowledge about oral health of pregnant patients: Descriptive study

Introduction: During pregnancy, the woman may be exposed to infectious processes, lesions in the oral cavity or painful symptoms, which is sometimes difficult to manage, given the precautions that the pregnancy condition demand. The aim is to understand that the state of maternal oral health determines to a large extent the state of health of the future baby, as well as adequate oral health conditions for pregnant women. The information that the mother acquires during this period will allow her to evaluate her oral and child health. Aim: To describe the level of knowledge of the oral health of pregnant women. Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional investigation. The sample was non-probabilistic and for convenience; was composed of 50 pregnant women. The variables studied were age, pregnancy trimester, level of education and level of knowledge. Results: Secondary studies predominated in the sample. The level of regular knowledge prevailed (64%) in the 3 trimesters. According to the perceived needs of oral health status, 66% said it was good. All the pregnant women, between 41 and 45 years old, showed regular knowledge. Conclusions: In the younger women, a deficient level of knowledge predominates. There are also differences for the weeks of gestation, because women with more weeks of gestation have more knowledge. 64% of the sample presented a regular level. Only 10%, got a correct assessment