The temporal relationship between exposure to bovine milk products and surgical NEC in preterm infants

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) continues to be a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is less common in breastfed infants suggesting a protective role for breast milk. However NEC is now being seen in fully breast milk fed infants following introduction of fortifiers derived from bovine milk, which suggests a possible causative role for bovine products. This study investigates the relationship between the commencement of feed containing bovine milk products and the development of surgical NEC in preterm infants.

David M. Burge
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer¹ and Consultant Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon² david.burge@uhs.nhs.uk

Melanie Drewett
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neonatal Surgery³

Hall N. J.
Associate Professor¹ and Consultant Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon²

¹University of Southampton
²Southampton Children’s Hospital
³Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton

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Keywords

necrotising enterocolitis; infant feeding; cows’ milk protein

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 18 ISSUE 4/JULY 2022

Use of a novel human milk-based fortifier in a preterm baby

This article reports on the case of a premature baby with multiple complications who demonstrated poor weight gain and intolerance to bovine milk-based fortifier. A novel human milk-based fortifier (NeoKare MMF) was introduced, which was well tolerated and resulted in optimal weight gain. The course of the growth of the infant is discussed and the role of a human breast milk-derived fortifier is considered.