Beacon News & CBS2 in Chicago Press For Answers - Hospitals Still Putting Premature Babies At Risk Of E. Sakazakii
Why six years after being advised NOT to use milk-based powdered formula for feeding premature babies are hospitals still doing it?
That's the question that a joint investigation of The Beacon News and Chicago's CBS2 affiliate raises as it looks into why premature babies were fed powdered formula that was contaminated with Enterobacter Sakazakii.
Five-month old Connor McGray died on May 3, 2008. Connor McGray and his twin brother Logan were born prematurely on Nov. 16, 2007, at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL. Originally, Connor was the stronger of the two premature babies. But then, he became lethargic and refused to eat.
The Enfamil brand powdered formula was fed to the baby while he was being cared for in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Rush-Copley. The Beacon News story sums up the threat Enfamil and like formulas present to premature babies: "The danger with powdered formula is that, unlike the liquid kind, it cannot be sterilized, making it vulnerable to bacteria growing in it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most severe cases involve babies exposed to a bacteria called Enterobacter sakazakii, or E-sak, which can lead to raging infections, severe brain damage and ultimately death, according to the CDC. (His mother) Amanda Carlin said Connor died after the E-sak bacteria led to an infection which caused the deadly form of meningitis. The baby suffered from seizures and brain abscess. And his blood and cerebral spinal fluid tested positive for the organism, the Health Department document says." Health professionals were warned about this in 2002 by FDA in this memo after an E. sakazakii outbreak in Tennessee in 2001. CBS2 tonight reported on another victim in Des Moines, Iowa. In that case, the infant is still alive but suffering from severe brain damage. See tonight's CBS2 report by going here. The Beacon's main story is here.
The cause of death listed on the baby's death certificate is hydrocephalus and bacterial meningitis. The bacterial infection, according to a memo from the Illinois Department of Public Health, "may be associated with the consumption of a powdered breast milk fortifier."
As a hospital based lactation consultant and RN I am very interested in these findings. We use ready made formula if a supplement is needed or if a mother chooses to formula feed. We do use enfamil human milk fortifier for some of our premies. Is this powdered milk based fortifier safe? It is specifically manufactured for premature babies.
At what age can healthy full term babies safely use a powdered formula?
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Nancy Smith RN IBCLC