by Silvia Dekumbis

Created on: June 25, 2010   Last Updated: June 26, 2010

US researchers have discovered by examining bacterial cultures, which they found on the skin and in the intestines of newborns, that C-section babies are more prone to infections than vaginally-delivered babies.  Babies who are born naturally are populated by their mother’s bacteria protecting them from disease-causing microorganisms. Cesarean-born babies on the other hand are only accommodated with the common skin germs and are therefore more susceptible to a number of infectious diseases and allergies, according to researchers of the University of Puerto Rico.

Over the course of life, man will be colonized by an unimaginable number of microorganisms.  The bacterial communities of the body play an important role in the digestion of the food and the strengthening of the immune system. They also compete with harmful bacteria to protect our body against dangerous infections. Babies grow up in the womb, a sterile environment. Once they are born, microorganisms begin to infest their bodies..

The composition of the bacterial communities of an individual is determined at birth, as María Domínguez-Bello and her colleagues of the University of Puerto Rico have demonstrated in their study.  Moreover, the nature of the settlement depends on the mere fact whether the infant was delivered vaginally or by caesarean section.

The scientists studied the bacteria of nine mothers shortly before giving birth.  In addition they examined their newborn babies.  They found that babies born vaginally were inhabited by similar species of bacteria as found in the birth canal and vaginal area of their mothers. C-section newborn babies, who obviously did not travel through the birth canal were only found to have ordinary skin bacteria.

Scientist could even identify the dreaded Staphylococcus aureus.  An infection caused by this pathogen is extremely difficult to treat as many strains are resistant to common antibiotics.  In a study conducted in 2004, researchers found that 64-82 percent of all newborns suffering from a skin disease caused by a resistant staphylococci, were born by a Caesarean section.

According to researchers babies that are born vaginally collect bacteria off their mother’s vaginal flora while travelling through the birth canal. The birth canal is an area heavily populated by a bacterial ecosystem that is home to a few species that are specialized in combating harmful pathogens.

The direct transfer of the mother’s flora to the child serves therefore as a direct protection against a disease triggered by colonization, according to researchers. Moreover, the mother’s good bacteria seems to initiate the immune system’s function.   The important colonization of the good bacteria inside the digestive is found in vaginally-delivered babies much sooner than c-section babies.

Earlier studies have already demonstrated a link between caesarean birth and the susceptibility to a number of infectious diseases, allergies and asthma. This was demonstrated with a study done at the University of Puerto Rico.  Without the mother’s good bacteria attained in the birth canal, newborn babies are prone to infections.

An increasing number of newborn babies don’t come in contact with the maternal vaginal flora.  In the U.S. alone, 30 percent of all deliveries are performed by cesarean section. The researchers want to conduct further studies to understand additional health risks in connection with caesarean sections.

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