Third Infant Is Diagnosed With Cronobacter, A Potentially Lethal Infection
Enfamil Newborn formula has been recalled earlier this month after it was considered a possible link to an infection, which caused the death of a 10-month-old baby. Now, a third baby has tested positive for the infection.
Cronobacter sakazakii is an environmental contaminant, which affects mostly children under the age of one. According to Food Safety News, “Only powdered infant formula and preparation equipment have been linked to C. sakazakii outbreaks among infants.”
The most recent Cronobacter infection was discovered in Oklahoma, and is the third infection, after a case in Illinois, to be reported during the month of December.
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On Dec. 18, 10-month-old Avery Cornett, who was being given Enfamil died, prompting some chain stores to pull the product off of the shelf.
However, lab tests from the manufacture revealed no contamination of the formula. The other two babies have survived but no link can be found between the three infections.
More information about each infant is currently being collected by state and the bacteria found will be run for tests to match possible similarities. Initial reports show that all infants were taking different formulas.
The Food and Drug Administration is still testing the unopened packages of formula and looking into where the formulas were manufactured, a process that could take over a month.
Although cases of the infection have been linked to formula in the past Food Safety News reported that the infection may also be attributed to the way the formula was prepared.
