Standards of Cleansing and Sterilization of Infant Feeding Utensils in the Home

Abstract

Microbiological standards achieved by mothers when sterilizing babies' feeding utensils in the home were studied in the Slough area in England. Results indicated a marked improvement in this aspect of baby hygiene when compared to results of a similar survey conducted in the town of Reading, England, in 1970. Previously, 78% of bottles and 70% of the teats were recorded as being satisfactorily sterilized. During this study the number of sterile bottles had risen to 98.1%, sterile teats to 90.6%. These improved standards may be an indication of better education of mothers.

Cleaning and sterilisation of infant feeding equipment: a systematic review

“…The majority did not carry out sterilisation procedures as recommended, in spite of the fact they had received health education in this field. Clegg et al .’s study in England in 1977 (31) found similar results.…”

“…The majority did not carry out sterilisation procedures as recommended, in spite of the fact they had received health education in this field. Clegg et al's study in England in 1977 (31) found similar results. The most recent study (18) examined the effectiveness of commonly used cleaning and disinfecting procedures on the removal of enterotoxigenic Bacillus cereus from feeding bottles.…”

“…Health visitors arrived without prior warning and collected a bottle and teat which were, according to the mother, clean and ready to be filled for the morning feed 78 % (n 281) of bottles and 70 % (n 253) of teats sterilised by hypochlorite had #5 colonies v. 46 % (n 106) of bottles and 34 % (n 77) of teats sterilised by boiling method Behaviour: more mothers using hypochlorite method used a more thorough cleansing routine -more of them used bottle brushes and liquid detergent and more rubbed the teats with salt and turned them inside out (no figures given) (31) : survey UK 63 mothers, all having babies aged 2-5 months who were being bottle-fed, from wide range of socio-economic groups 3 used the boiling method; 60 used some form of hypochlorite solution (not defined)…”

“…(1962) (36) Non-randomised controlled trial (30) Survey Not an experimental design -background information only Clegg et al (1977) (31) Survey Not an experimental design -background information only Rowan and Anderson (1998) (18) Non-randomised lab-based trial of three procedures ITT, intention to treat. *Using criteria in Khan et al (29) .…”

“…Of the 1520 references identified, only nine studies published in eight papers (18,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) met the inclusion criteria; all but one (18) were identified in the early search. The majority of the other citations were not research studies.…”