A major infectious disease challenge
In premature babies, every detail of their care is important. Their immature immune, digestive and metabolic systems make them particularly vulnerable to infections, some of which can be serious, linked to their care environment.
Enteral feeding, whether with breast milk, donated milk or infant formula, is a critical step. Collecting, storing, preparing, warming and administering milk are all moments when there is a risk of contamination.
According to the High Council for Public Health (HCSP), the top priority is therefore to minimise any external contamination, particularly by potentially pathogenic environmental bacteria.
Multiple stages, cumulative risks
The nutritional care of a premature baby involves a complex chain:
- milk collection (at the hospital or at home),
- cold storage,
- transport,
- preparation and possible addition of fortifiers,
- reheating,
- administration (by bottle, tube or syringe).
The HCSP points out that breast milk is not naturally sterile, which is also what makes it so biologically rich. However, it can be contaminated by the environment if hygiene conditions are not perfectly controlled.
In this context, equipment that comes into contact with milk must not under any circumstances become an additional source of contamination.
Why single use is recommended in neonatology
The French recommendations are clear: to ensure the safety of hospitalised newborns, particularly premature babies, it is essential not to add any risk associated with the container or medical device.
The HCSP therefore recommends:
- give preference to single-use devices,
- ensure the absence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms,
- strictly control the total microbial flora of devices in contact with milk
Single use allows you to:
- eliminate the risk of cross-contamination between patients,
- avoid milk residues that can promote bacterial growth,
- reduce dependence on complex cleaning or disinfection procedures that vary depending on the department.
In premature babies, reducing the number of risky steps is a fundamental principle of prevention.
Security that spans the entire chain
The HCSP emphasises that infection prevention does not depend solely on whether or not a device is sterile, but on strict compliance with hygiene rules throughout the entire care chain.
The use of single-use devices is part of this overall approach:
- it limits environmental contamination,
- it enhances the reliability of practices,
- it contributes to consistent control of infection risk in departments where patients are extremely vulnerable
Protecting the most vulnerable
In premature babies, infection can have serious consequences: septicaemia, meningitis, enterocolitis, and even death. This is why national guidelines emphasise the need to ensure the safety of every item that comes into contact with the patient.
Single use is not a logistical constraint; it is an essential protective measure, consistent with infectious disease control requirements in neonatology.