Breastfeeding ‘protects preemies against urinary tract

A new study has revealed that breastfeeding can protect preterm infants against urinary
tract infections.

For the study, lead researcher Dr. Itzhak Levy performed a case controlled study in a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit between 1995 and 2003.

The study group included all premature infants less than 37 weeks gestation diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and were compared with a gestational age and birth weight matched
infant population without UTIs.

He found that the main organism present was a klebsiella species. They found that male gender played a role along with the presence of a peripheral IV – which was significantly associated with urinary tract infection.

Moreover, they found breast milk was associated with a lower risk of infection with a 95pct confidence interval and P value less than 0.0009.

It is believed that the maternal immunoglobulins passed through breast milk must have a protective effect against urinary tract infections. (ANI)

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