Whether you’re pumping at home or on the go, taking the time to thoroughly clean and sanitize your breast pump after use might not always be at the top of a busy mama’s mind. But after a Pennsylvania infant died from contracting a bacterial infection from a contaminated breast pump part, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines on breast pump cleanliness to prevent another tragedy.
Officials said the child, who was born prematurely at 29 weeks in April 2016, contracted cronobacter, a rare but often fatal bacterial infection in newborns. Cronobacter infections are so uncommon that the CDC only sees about four to six cases a year. The germ, which thrives in dry conditions, was found on contaminated breast pump parts used by infants, even after the mother soaked the parts in soapy water. The mother told officials she let the parts air dry but did not scrub or sanitize them, according to the CDC.
“Breast milk is very healthy (and) prevents infections in infants, but like any other fluid, it is very prone to get infections,” Dr. Vadana Bhide, a pediatrician and assistant professor at Mayo Clinic, told News 4 Jax.
The updated two-page printable guidelines aim to help new parents with how and when to thoroughly clean the parts of the breast pump, ensuring that even those tiny and hard-to-reach spots are squeaky clean. Here’s what the CDC wants you to know:
Before each use:
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Wash your hands with soap and water before coming into contact with the pump.
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As you assemble the breast pump, check for mold and other unsanitary conditions that may have grown on the pump since its last use.
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Be sure to clean all parts of the pump with disinfectant wipes.
After each use:
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When you’re done, label each bag with the date and time and your name if storing your bags in a shared space, and immediately place the bag in a cold location such as a freezer or refrigerator.
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As you take apart each piece of the pump, including the tubing and all parts that came into contact with the breast milk, use disinfectant wipes to clean the pump.
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Rinse the parts off to remove all breast milk remnants. Be sure not to place them in the sink basin when rinsing so the parts do not come into contact with other germs.
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Timeliness is everything. Clean the parts as soon as possible by hand or in the dishwasher.
Be sure to safely store the dry breast pump and parts after each cleaning. View the fully updated breast pump cleaning instructions on the CDC website.
