What is Enterobacter sakazakii?
Enterobacter sakazakii is a bacteria that was first associated with the deaths of premature babies in 1958. Over the last 40 years infections linked to this organism have been reported in neonatal units worldwide. The bacteria can lead to meningitis, sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis. It is found in the environment and can sometimes contaminate food, particularly powdered infant formula. The bacteria may be present in the powder when it is bought or it can be introduced when the formula is being prepared. Why didn’t the Ministry pass on the warning it received in 2002 from the United States Centers of Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration? The Ministry of Health based its risk assessment on two factors: 1. The Centers of Disease Control warning – on which the FDA warning was based – related to a specific brand of infant formula not used in New Zealand. 2. No cases of meningitis from Enterobacter sakazakii have ever been reported here. The risks were therefore regarded
