Molecular Virology: Tables of Antimicrobial Factors and Microbial Contaminants in Human Milk
Table 6: Contaminants in infant formula that caused
infections *
| Contaminant | Number of Outbreaks |
|---|---|
| Bacteria | |
| Clostridium botulinum ** | One infection? (UK, 2001) |
| Enterobacter sakazakii | Several (various countries) |
| Salmonella agona | One (France, 2005) |
| Salmonella anatum | One (UK / Europe, 1996) |
| Salmonella bredeney | Two (Australia, 1977; France / UK, 1988) |
| Salmonella ealing | One (UK, 1985) |
| Salmonella kedougou | One (Spain, 2008) |
| Salmonella london | One (Korea, 2000) |
| Salmonella tennessee | One (USA / Canada, 1993) |
| Salmonella virchow | One (Spain, 1994) |
* Not contaminated during preparation for use
** Present in opened container, strain variation in unopened container
- Other milk powders have been a source of infection in infants and adults, with different Salmonella or Staphylococcus.
- Milk powder added to bottles for infants became a source of one Bacillus cereus outbreak.
- It has been suggested that the high levels of galactomannan in cow's milk formula may be able to be detected in infants sera leading to false positives for invasive aspergillosis.
- US FDA bacterial compliance in formula. Formula meeting FAO food code may not meet some countries' food laws (which can be <1 coliform/gram in all tests).
Copyright J.T. May, 2007/2011.
Table 6a: Contaminants in infant formula that caused infections in hospitals
| Contaminant | Number of Outbreaks |
|---|---|
| Citrobacter freundii | One |
| Enterobacter sakazakii*** and Leuconostoc mesenteroides*** |
One |
| Enterobacter sakazakii **** | Several |
| Escherichia coli | One |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | One |
| Salmonella isangi | One |
| Salmonella saintpaul | One |
| Serratia marcescens | One |
*** Has been isolated from blenders. In 1984, one report indicated
Enterobacter cloacae was present in a manufacturer's bottled formula.
**** The latest recall was in 2004.
Notes on care with preparation of formula.
Other bacterial contamination has been traced to milk kitchen sources.
Copyright J.T. May, 2004.
NB: A bibliography for these tables is currently available.
