Faecal Contamination of Feeding Bottles Contents, Among Artificially Fed Children

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the bacterial contamination of feeding bottles contents in artificially fed children presenting with diarrhoea at the Paediatric outpatient clinic in Khartoum Hospital.

Methods: Hundred bottle fed infants presenting with diarrhoea were included in the study. Specimens were collected from the contents of the feeding bottles and the faeces of children.

Results: Hundred and ten bacterial species were isolated from the contents. E. coli was the commonest isolate [33 (30%)]. Different other bacterial species were also isolated with very high count (1X106 - > 15X105/ml). Twenty one enteric pathogens were isolated from the stool specimens [Enteropathogenic E. coli (7) and Shigella species (14)]. The antibiotic sensitivity of the E. coli and Shigella species showed high resistance to co-trimoxazole (57.5%, 53.3% respectively) and to coamoxiclav (85% - 53.3% respectively).

Conclusion: Awareness to the hazards of the feeding bottles among the community should be raised and breast feeding should be encouraged.

Key words: diarrhea, enteric pathogens, E. coli.