biostudies-literatureAbduweli Uyghurturk DNIDCR NIH HHSCenter for Children Oral Health Researche14040https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9511999biostudies-literatureUnknown10<h4>Background</h4>Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative therapy for a wide range of pediatric malignant and nonmalignant diseases. However, complications, including blood stream infection (BSI) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. While certain bacteria that are abundant in the oral microbiome, such as <i>S. mitis</i>, can cause BSI, the role of the oral microbial community in the etiology of BSI is not well understood. The finding that the use of xylitol wipes, which specifically targets the cariogenic bacteria <i>S. mutans</i> is associated with reduced BSI in pediatric patients, lead us to investigate dental caries as a risk factor for BSI.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 41 pediatric patients admitted for allogenic or autologous HCT, age 8 months to PeerJDental caries as a risk factor for bacterial blood stream infection (BSI) in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).PMC9511999T32 DE007306T32DE007306Abduweli Uyghurturk DLu YDen Besten PUrata JC Dvorak CfalseDental caries as a risk factor for bacterial blood stream infection (BSI) in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).<h4>Background</h4>Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative therapy for a wide range of pediatric malignant and nonmalignant diseases. However, complications, including blood stream infection (BSI) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. While certain bacteria that are abundant in the oral microbiome, such as <i>S. mitis</i>, can cause BSI, the role of the oral microbial community in the etiology of BSI is not well understood. The finding that the use of xylitol wipes, which specifically targets the cariogenic bacteria <i>S. mutans</i> is associated with reduced BSI in pediatric patients, lead us to investigate dental caries as a risk factor for BSI.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 41 pediatric patients admitted for allogenic or autologous HCT, age 8 months to 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-04-08T11:38:55.178Z2025-04-19T22:46:26.199ZS-EPMC95119993617249610.7717/peerj.14040