Breastfeeding May Protect Pre-Term Babies From Urinary Tract Infections

Research reported in Pediatric Nephrology shows that the role of breastfeeding is very important in protecting premature babies from the risk of urinary tract infections. Dr. Itzhak Levy, the primary author, and colleagues have studied these infections in premature infants and set out to find the possible risk factors and how breastfeeding affects (or alters) their development.

The case-controlled study took place between 1995 and 2003. The group of subjects included all premature babies less than 37 weeks gestation who were diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The control group was made up of infants who had comparable gestational ages and birth weights but did not have urinary tract infections. A total of 6,198 premature infants were admitted to the NICU during this period of time with 56 included in the study group.

It was found that the main bacteria present was Klebsiella. The researchers found that breast milk was associated with a lower risk of infection. It was concluded that the maternal immunoglobulins passed through breast milk must have a protective effect.