Federal health authorities are cautioning parents of babies to decontaminate equipment used for both bottle- and breast-feeding after a baby passed away last year from a rare infection connected to a contaminated breast pump.

The baby, a premature kid, was infected with the germs Cronobacter sakazakii, the exact same germ that sparked a recall and nationwide lack of powdered infant formula in 2015, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report launched Thursday.

This infant's infection was not caused by infected formula.

The child, who was hospitalized, had actually been fed a mix of breastmilk and liquid human milk fortifier through a tube. Genetic sequencing linked the infection to germs separated from a breast pump used at home. Samples from revealed milk, a breast pump utilized in the medical facility and the liquid human milk fortifier were all negative for the germs.

An investigation found that the home breast pump was cleaned in a household sink, sterilized and often assembled while still moist.

Dr. Julia Haston, a CDC expert in pediatric transmittable diseases, said the case highlights that cronobacter germs are found commonly in the environment and can result in serious and fatal infections.

" There are steps that people can require to prevent infections," she said, consisting of thoroughly cleaning, sterilizing and drying hands, equipment and all surface areas before feeding a baby.

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