A bacterial infection may be the cause of the sudden, unexplained deaths of some babies in the first year of life, new research suggests.
An Australian researcher analyzed autopsy reports from babies whose deaths were attributed to cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), whereby a baby dies for unexplained reasons.
He found that many of the SIDS babies carried the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, which scientists believe may produce toxins that ultimately overcome the baby.
Paul Goldwater of the Women's and Children's Hospital and the University of Adelaide in Australia conducted the research. His findings are published in the online edition of the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Goldwater collected autopsy data from 130 babies who died unexpectedly, in addition to 32 babies who died suddenly from an infection and 33 who died from other causes, such as accidents.
He analyzed bacteria samples from parts of the body that are usually free of infections, called sterile sites, such as heart blood, the spleen and cerebrospinal fluid.
Infections in these areas were rare in babies who died from other causes.
However, the sterile site tissue in nearly one in five babies who died suddenly as a result of infection, and one in 10 SIDS babies, was infected with bacteria.
Many of the infections were caused by the Staph bacterium.
According to Health Canada, three babies die of SIDS in Canada each week. SIDS usually occurs in babies who are under one year of age.
The phenomenon has confounded doctors and scientists who have tried to determine how otherwise healthy babies can die in their sleep without an obvious cause.
In recent months, other studies have established a possible link between SIDS and the presence of the Staph bacterium.
Many adults carry the bacterium, which means that some babies and children will naturally contract it, too.
Therefore, Goldwater said researchers will next have to study how to prevent transmission of the bacterium from parent to child.
As well, he advised that a microbiologist examine tissue samples of SIDS babies for sterile site infections before finalizing a cause of death.
In the meantime, Health Canada offers these tips for lowering the risk of SIDS:
- A baby should sleep on his or her back.
- Avoid putting too many clothes or covers on the baby.
- Do not smoke around the baby.
