Expressed human milk in the dietary management of infants at high risk of infection
1982
The effect of feeding human milk to preterm infants of low (below 1500 g) birth weight is assessed. Such infants are at high risk of early mortality from a number of conditions (e.g., acid-base imbalance, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, infection). It is concluded that giving human milk to low birth weight (LBW) infants can result in a dramatic reduction in infection and mortality rate. A study of LBW infants randomly selected to receive expressed human milk in autoclaved feeding bottles showed that only 4 developed clinical infections. None were major, and all infants survived hospitalization. However, of a 2nd group of LBW infants receiving a standard nursery formula, 17 developed infections with 6 dying from complications of the infections. Bacteriological analysis showed all formula samples to be sterile. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that human milk contains effective anti-i nfective protective properties. (wz)
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