Bacteriological quality of infant feeding bottle-contents and teats in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

Bacteriological quality of 244 infant feeding-bottles and 61 teats were studied from January 1989 to November 1989. Samples were collected from feeding-bottles of babies who were brought by nursing mothers to clinics and hospitals for varying complaints. Of the 244 bottle-content samples, 144 (59%) harboured more than 2 x 10(6) colonies of bacteria per ml. of samples. The predominant bacterial isolates both from bottle-contents and teat-swabs were the coliform group of bacteria, such as E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., and Citrobacter spp. Enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic E. coli, Shigella spp., S. aureus, and Bacillus cereus, were also isolated from some samples. In some cases enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) serotype were isolated both from feeding utensils and from the stools of the bottle-fed babies. Neither the different handling care of bottles used in the studied population, nor the educational status of the nursing mothers made a significant difference in the bacteriological quality of the infant feeding bottles in terms of the total bacterial counts per ml. of the bottle-contents. Preparation of food in advance of need combined with improper storage and inadequate cooking, and poor hygiene could be factors that resulted in a highly contaminated bottle contents. The superior quality of breast milk, and continual teaching of bottle feeding mothers on better handling of feeding bottles and feeds should be constantly emphasized. Teaching mothers on proper handling of feeding utensils accompanied by regular home visiting of health workers to observe hygienic condition of feeding utensils and home environment may improve the prevailing condition. Further and well controlled community based, longitudinal studies are also needed if we are to reduce gastroenteritis in babies as a result of using feeding bottles.