INTESTINAL FLORA IN BREAST-FED AND BOTTLE-FED INFANTS

We verified whether an adapted formula, which presents poly-oligosacch arides containing maltose, promotes intestinal implantation of bacteri al microflora to the extent that breast milk does, as an epidemiologic al link exists between newborn feeding methods and infant health. Stoo l specimens were taken and cultured at the fourth day of life from vag inally born neonates. Twenty-two were breast-fed and 20 were fed with formula. In breastfed infants, the Bifidobacterium was significantly p revalent expressed in percentage (47.6% vs 15%) and in mean bacterial fecal counts/g (7.1 +/- 0.8 vs 5.3 +/- 0.6). Enterococci prevailed in formula-fed infants (mean counts 6.7 +/- 0.9 vs 7.4 +/- 0.5). Of inter est is the significant and simultaneous presence of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides in breast-fed infants. Our study indicates that flora wit h a diet-dependent pattern is present from the fourth day of life. The se results support a preference for breast feeding over formula feedin g, even though renewed.