CDC: Baby’s death last year linked to contaminated breast pump

A baby’s death last year has been tied to a rare infection linked to a contaminated breast pump, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another infant was infected but survived.

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In a news release, the CDC said Cronobacter sakazakii infections have been linked to powdered infant formula and breast pump equipment in 2021 and 2022.

Cronobacter sakazakii is believed to be rare but can cause “severe illness and death in infants.” The CDC said it can cause deadly meningitis and sepsis.

The first case that was reported was in September 2021. When the baby was about 14 days old, they were taken to the hospital for a fever, irritability, excessive crying, thrush, and diaper dermatitis, the CDC said. It was learned that the baby had both breast milk and powdered formula.

“A lumbar puncture was performed, and C. sakazakii was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF),” the agency said. The baby was then admitted to the hospital and was treated for about 21 days before being released. He made a full recovery.

A premature baby boy was infected with the Cronobacter sakazakii, which The Associated Press said is the same germ that led to a recall and massive nationwide shortage of powdered baby formula last year. However, this baby’s infection was not caused by contaminated formula.

In February 2022, the baby was being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit for complications after his premature birth. The CDC said that the baby was stable, eating, growing, and breathing without any support from a respirator. The baby was given “expressed breast milk fortified with liquid human milk fortified through an orogastric tube before becoming ill.”

When the baby was about 20 days old, he had apneic and bradycardia episodes along with a rising temperature and need for respiratory assistance, according to the CDC. He then had seizures. The child was given intravenous antibiotics and negative blood cultures repeatedly but died 13 days later.

An investigation was conducted into how the baby got the illness and it was found that the home breast pump was cleaned at home in a sink, sanitized, and was even put back together still moist, the AP reported.