Tgc. Murrell et al., SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME (SIDS) - ARE COMMON BACTERIAL TOXINS RESPONSIBLE, AND DO THEY HAVE A VACCINE POTENTIAL, Vaccine, 12(4), 1994, pp. 365-368
Despite extensive research, no unifying concept has satisfactorily exp
lained the cause of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The detai
ls are briefly outlined of some of the evidence supporting the hypothe
sis that common bacterial toxins are important in the aetiology of SID
S. These bacterial toxins act as triggers to initiate a biochemical ca
scade resulting in death. Data from four research groups, each working
independently, indicated that the bacteria Clostridium perfringens, E
scherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Enteroc
occus spp. were present in higher numbers in infants who had suffered
SIDS than in control infants. Certainly more detailed studies need to
be performed on the role of bacterial infections in infants. There are
many implications arising from this work, particularly the use of vac
cination as a means of reducing infections, and consequently the numbe
r of SIDS deaths.