Unexplained cot deaths could be linked to common bacterial infections, new research suggests.

Reported by BBC News, a study by the Great Ormand Street hospital has found that babies who died suddenly for no apparent reason were more likely to carry harmful bacteria which could have affected their breathing or nerve signals.

Published in the Lancet, the research stated that there is no proof that bacteria causes cot deaths, but that there is a connection between the two.

Co-author of the study Professor Nigel Klein remarked that the findings could be a pure coincidence.

"However, it is possible that these bacteria may be more likely to be present in children who are exposed to other risk factors, such as smoking," he said, adding that parents should heed previous advice given to minimise the risk of an unexplained death.

Research, part-funded by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, found that babies should be put down for their daytime naps in the same room as their parents to reduce the risk of cot death, reported the Guardian.

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