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 16/ISSUE3, MAY 2020

Response of UK milk banks to ensure the safety and supply of donor human milk in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting several challenges to human milk banks and has highlighted a number of vulnerabilities in service provision that have been long known by those who work in the sector. In recent weeks, milk banks across the UK have worked together to understand any risks posed to infants, milk bank staff and volunteers by COVID-19, and to put in place mitigation strategies to ensure the safeguarded provision and safety of donor human milk. The authors call on policymakers to better support these essential services for vulnerable neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic and minimise the impact of future challenges through greater investment in milk bank infrastructure, research and innovation.