Incidence of Haemophilus influenzae in the throats of healthy infants with different feeding methods

• Published in: Pediatrics international Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 277 - 280
• Main Authors: Hokama, TOMIKO, Sakamoto, RYOKO, Yara, ASAO, Asato, YOSHIHIDE, Takamine, FUSAE, Itokazu, KEN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.06.1999
• Subjects: Bacterial Adhesion; Birth Order; Bottle Feeding - adverse effects; Breast Feeding; breast-fed infant; Carrier State - immunology; Carrier State - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Haemophilus Infections - immunology; Haemophilus Infections - microbiology; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus influenzae - growth & development; Haemophilus influenzae - pathogenicity; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant Food; Pharynx - microbiology; throat
• ISSN: 1328-8067; 1442-200X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-200x.1999.01068.x

Background: Haemophilus influenzae is the major cause of otitis media and lower respiratory tract infection in childhood. In the presence of human milk, which contains numerous host defense factors, Haemophilus influenzae may be inhibited in attaching to and colonizing pharyngeal cells. We investigated the incidence of H. influenzae in the throats of 162 healthy infants with different feeding methods: 70 breast‐fed, 49 mixed‐fed and 43 formula‐fed infants. Methods and Results: Haemophilus influenzae was identified using standard microbiological procedures and the API NH system. The incidence of H. influenzae in breast‐fed infants, mixed‐fed infants and formula‐fed infants was 0, 0 and 7.0% respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that the colonization of H. influenzae in the throat was inhibited by the presence of breast milk.