Introduction. Breast milk is the best food for preterm infants. Due to their inadequate suction-swallowing action, the administration of expressed breast milk should be done with an orogastric tube. There is little information available regarding the microbiological safety of expressed breast milk. The aim of this article was to evaluate if there were any differences regarding the contamination of breast milk obtained at a healthcare facility versus at home. Methods. Cross-sectional study that analyzed pairs of breast milk samples (one obtained at home and the other one at a healthcare facility, the same day) from mothers of hospitalized newborn infants with a gestational age ≤35 weeks. Samples with over 10 5 CFU/mL of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, or with the presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, enterobacterias, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, fungi, and yeast were considered contaminated. Results. A total of 280 breast milk samples (140 pairs) from 53 mothers were analyzed; 139 samples (49.6%; 95% CI: 43.6 to 55.6) were contaminated; contamination was significantly more frequent in the samples obtained at home than in those obtained at a healthcare facility (59.6% versus 39.6%; p = 0.0008; OR 2.25; 95% IC: 1.36 to 3.7). Conclusion. Half of the breast milk samples had bacterial growth, which was more frequent in the samples obtained at home than those obtained at a healthcare facility.

Background: Although error could be present in almost every medical practice, they are more frequent and potentially more dangerous in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Objective: To determine prescription error rate of intravenous drugs in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and to describe type of error (dose, dilution, and interval) and medication (antibiotics, inotropics, or analgesics).Methods: Observational study including medical records of patients hospitalized in a NICU, receiving any of the above mentioned drugs. Each prescription was compared with one provided by a specific software. Prescription error was defined as >10% of difference between both values.Results: 362 prescriptions from 82 patients were analyzed. An error was observed in 42.5% (95%CI 37.4 – 47.8) of all prescriptions, including 148 (96.1%; 95%CI: 91.3-98.4) antibiotics prescriptions, 5 (3.2%; 95%CI: 1.2-7.7) inotropics prescriptions and 1 (0.7%; 95%CI: 0.01-4.2) analgesics prescriptions. Prescription errors were due to frequency error in 53.8% 95%CI: 45.6-61.8 of cases and to volume error in 46.1% (95%CI: 38.1-54.3). Conclusion: Almost half of the intravenous drugs prescriptions included an error, being more frequently related to interval, followed by dosing; no errors in dilution were detected. Using prescription software could improve patient’s safety.

Comparación del riesgo de contaminación de la leche materna extraída en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales y en el hogarRisk of microbiological contamination between samples of human milk obtained at home and obtained at hospital RESUMEN Introducción. La leche materna es el mejor alimento para los prematuros. Debido a su inadecuado mecanismo de succión-deglución, la administración de leche materna extraída debe realizarse mediante una sonda orogástrica. Se dispone de escasa información sobre las condiciones microbiológicas de seguridad para la leche materna extraída. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar si había diferencia en la contaminación de la leche extraída en la institución y en el domicilio. Métodos. Estudio transversal que analizó pares de muestras de leche (una extraída en el hogar y otra en la institución, el mismo día) de madres de neonatos internados, de edad gestacional ≤ 35 semanas. Se consideraron contaminadas las muestras de leche que tenían más de 10 5 UFC/ml de aerobios mesófilos, o presencia de Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, enterobacterias, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, hongos y levaduras. Resultados. Se analizaron 280 muestras de leche (140 pares) de 53 madres; 139 muestras (49,6%; IC 95%: 43,6 a 55,6) presentaron contaminación, que fue significativamente más frecuente en las muestras obtenidas en el domicilio que en las obtenidas en la institución (59,6% contra 39,6%; p= 0,0008; OR 2,25; IC 95% 1,36 a 3,7). Conclusión. La mitad de las muestras de leche materna presentaron contaminación, la cual fue más frecuente en las obtenidas en el domicilio. Palabras clave: leche materna, nutrición, recién nacido, prematuro.