Human Milk Feeding for Septic Newborn Infants Might Minimize Their Exposure to Ventilation Therapy

Abstract

Background. It has been well established that human milk feeding contributes to limiting lung diseases in vulnerable neonates. The primary aim of this study was to compare the need for mechanical ventilation between human milk-fed neonates with sepsis and formula-fed neonates with sepsis. Methods. All late preterm and full-term infants from a single center with sepsis findings from 2002 to 2017 were identified. Data on infant feeding during hospital admission were also recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of feeding type on ventilation support and main neonatal morbidities. Results. The total number of participants was 322 (human milk group = 260; exclusive formula group = 62). In the bivariate analysis, 72% of human milk-fed neonates did not require oxygen therapy or respiratory support versus 55% of their formula-fed counterparts (p < 0.0001). Accordingly, invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 9.2% of any human milk-fed infants versus 32% of their exclusively formula-fed counterparts (p = 0.0085). These results held true in multivariate analysis; indeed, any human milk-fed neonates were more likely to require less respiratory support (OR = 0.44; 95% CI:0.22, 0.89) than those who were exclusively formula-fed. Conclusion. Human milk feeding may minimize exposure to mechanical ventilation.

Exclusive formula feeding is a potential risk factor for inotrope use in neonatal sepsis. A retrospective cohort study

“…We do not have an explanation for our results on meningitis. Concerning hypotonia, it has been reported that a high proportion of oppy infants also show shallow measurements of muscle strength [11,12], and systematic reviews con rm the positive association between breastfeeding and body strength or balance beyond infancy [13,14]. However, we have found no evidence that human milk feeding in uences muscle tone or strength in newborns prior to our study.…”

The role of human milk feeds on inotrope use in newborn infants with sepsis

“…During the study period (2002–2017), 4,210 neonates were admitted to the participating NICU, 7.6% ( n = 322; 260 in HM group and 62 in EF group) of whom met inclusion criteria and were eligible to participate in the final analysis. Similar to what was published in an earlier study of these cohorts examining the relationship between type of feeding and type of respiratory support ( 10 ), baseline characteristics of neonates who received any amount of HM and neonates who received only formula are summarized in Table 1 . The mean age of newborns on admission to the neonatal unit was 4.3 days in cases of bacterial sepsis and 12.9 days in cases of viral sepsis, and 20% of infants with bacterial sepsis required vasoactive support compared to 2% of infants with viral sepsis.…”

“…This is a secondary analysis of data collected for a doctoral thesis intended to explore the clinical and laboratory characteristics of neonates with viral or bacterial sepsis ( 9 ). Previous research contains complete details of the methodological processes ( 10 ). In brief, this study was carried out using a retrospective review of electronic medical records of late preterm and full-term newborn infants.…”