Hi again,
There seems to be some confusion on this issue.  Artificial infamt feeds put
infants at greater risk of infection for two reason - firstly they are
denied normal immune support that is delivered via breastfeeding (part of
this is abnormal gut flora); secondly they are exposed to higher bacterial
loads in their feeds and higher risk of user error in feed
preparation/storage/delivery.
Babies fed commercial non-human milks (commonly known as 'infant formula')
or any food other than human milk are known to be immunocompromised.  On top
of this, powdered non-human milks are known to carry bacteria and to be an
excellent medium for their growth.  Their mothers should be encouraged to
sterilise feeding equipment before each use.  They should also be encouraged
to mix powdered animal milks (formula) with water that is at least 70
degrees celcius and then to cool to feeding temperature in the refridgerator
- as per WHO guidelines.
Mothers who breastfeed and/or feed their babies human milk by bottle don't
need to sterilise (but they do need to practise good hygiene) - because
their babies have normally supported immune systems and human milk is known
to be a poor medium for bacterial growth.
Nina Berry
Australia

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