Powdered infant formula is not sterile and has been implicated in Cronobacter outbreaks. Cronobacter is a rare cause of infant blood infections and meningitis; it carries a 40% mortality rate. Two infants, in New Mexico, who were not related to one another, and lived 200 miles apart, developed infections with Cronobacter sakazakii. One infant developed severe brain injury and hydrocephalus. The other infant died. The New Mexico Department of Health determined that the only known risk factor for these illnesses was powdered infant formula. Cronobacter was not isolated from sealed canisters of formula, but it was isolated from an opened canister of formula in one of the infant's homes. This Cronobacter was a genetic match to the Cronobacter found in the infant's postmortem blood sample. The infants were infected with different strains of Cronobacter, but had consumed the same brand of powdered infant formula.