FDA and powdered formula

Specialties NICU

Published

Have any of you read the article the FDA just put out about not using powdered formula in the NICU setting? Apparently, and infant died from Enterobacter sakazakii meningitis related to being fed powdered Portagen. The FDA is now saying that powdered formulas should not be used in the NICU setting ...only liquid forms. They say that powdered formula is not commercially sterile and there processing differs from that of liquid formulas. They strongly suggest that powdered formulas not be used unless clinically required and under strict medical supervision. They also suggest that careful preparation and handling is essential. They suggest that aseptic techinique be used in preparing powdered formula and using sterile water. My question is....Have any of your NICU's addressed this issue and how are you doing things differently in regards to using powdered formula on your units? Our unit just addressed this....they are going to continue to use powder formula (we use it to increase calories of our liquid formulas and breastmilk) and we have to wear clean gloves when mixing formulas up.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

We had a nurse from Canada visiting last week and they have a room, like a pharmacy that that is all they do is measure out feeds, add additives and make the special formulas. Your feedings come in the premeasured syringes, labeled with name, date. You get 24 hours worth of feeds, they never have to draw their own up! What a time saver!

They call them the Dairy Queens :lol

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Oh man! That sounds like a dream!!!!

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The facility where I worked Dietary prepared the formulas and sent them to the units and the ones that were canned well the night nurse made the formula for the day and stored it in the fridge for use for all the shifts......dont know if that helps but that is my two cents.....LOL

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